Compositions comprising HMW-MAA and fragments thereof, and methods of use thereof

Abstract

This invention provides recombinant polypeptides comprising a fragment of a high Molecular Weight Melanoma-Associated antigen (hmw-MAA), recombinant Listeria strains comprising same, and methods of inducing an anti-hmw-MAA and anti HER-2/neu immune response thus treating and impeding the growth of tumors, comprising administering same.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/960,538 filed Oct. 3, 2007, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/889,715 filed Aug. 15, 2007, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/837,608 filed Aug. 15, 2006, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

GOVERNMENT INTEREST STATEMENT

This invention was made in whole or in part with government support under Grant Number RO1CA109253 (Y.P.) and T32CA09140 (M.S.), awarded by the National Institutes of Health. The government may have certain rights in the invention.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention provides a recombinant polypeptide comprising a fragment of a High Molecular Weight Melanoma-Associated Antigen (HMW-MAA), recombinant Listeria strains comprising same, and methods of inducing an immune response and treating and impeding the growth of tumors, especially breast tumors, comprising administering same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In women, breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. One in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer during her lifetime. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), approximately 200,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States, and the disease causes about 41,000 deaths annually. The incidence of breast cancer rises after age 40. The highest incidence (approximately 80% of invasive cases) occurs in women over age 50. According to the American Cancer Society, about 0.22 percent of men cancer deaths are from breast cancer.

HMW-MAA, also known as the melanoma chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (MCSP), is a transmembrane protein of 2322 residues. HMW-MAA is expressed on over 90% of surgically removed benign nevi and melanoma lesions, and is also expressed in basal cell carcinoma, tumors of neural crest origin (e.g. astrocytomas, gliomas, neuroblastomas and sarcomas), childhood leukemias, and lobular breast carcinoma lesions. In vitro experimental data shows that HMW-MAA is involved in the adhesion, spreading and migration of melanoma cells and may have a role in cell invasion and metastasis.

Treatments and cures for many tumors e.g. both HMW-MAA-expressing and non-HMW-MAA-expressing tumors, as well as methods for prevention especially in high risk populations, are urgently needed in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a recombinant Listeria strain comprising a recombinant polypeptide, wherein the recombinant polypeptide comprises a peptide encoded by SEQ ID NO: 23.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of inducing an anti-HER-2/neu immune response in a subject, a method of delaying progression of a tumor in a subject, a method of treating or preventing breast cancer in a subject, whereby said breast cancer is associated with expression of HER-2/neu antigen in said subject comprising administering to said subject a composition comprising a recombinant Listeria strain comprising a recombinant polypeptide, wherein the recombinant polypeptide comprises a peptide encoded by SEQ ID NO: 23.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a recombinant polypeptide comprising a peptide encoded by SEQ ID NO: 23 linked to a non-HMW-MAA oligopeptide selected from a listeriolysin (LLO) oligopeptide or a homologue thereof, an ActA oligopeptide or a homologue thereof, and a PEST-like oligopeptide or a homologue thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1: HMW-MAA cloning into pGG55-based plasmid. Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA was generated by transforming the prfA⁻ strain XFL-7 with the plasmid pGG-55. pGG-55 has the hly promoter driving expression of a non-hemolytic fusion of LLO-E7 and the prfA gene to select for retention of the plasmid. XFL-7 must retain the plasmid in order to be viable.

FIG. 2. LLO-HMW-MAA constructs are expressed. Supernatant was harvested from LM strains transformed with the LLO-HMW-MAA A, B and C plasmids. A. Anti-PEST probes revealed that all three strains produced fusion proteins of the expected sizes (48 Kda for LLO, 75 Kda for HMW-MAA-A, 98 Kda for HMW-MAA-B, and 62 Kda for HMW-MAA-C). B. Anti-LLO probes revealed LLO bands for HMW-MAA-A, HMW-MAA-B, HMW-MAA-C, and in 10403S controls.

FIG. 3. Listeria strains expressing LLO-HMW-MAA constructs exhibit growth in media (A), virulence, and intracellular growth (B) similar to wild type Lm.

FIG. 4. HMW-MAA-expressing Lm impedes the growth of tumors, even in tumor cells that do not express HMW-MAA. 10⁸ cfu of Lm-HMW-MAA-C impedes B16F0-Ova tumor growth as measured by tumor size (A) and volume (B) significantly compared to the naïve group. Similar effects on tumor diameter and volume were observed with all three Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA strains after inoculation of C57BL/6 mice with B16F0-Ova (C) and RENCA (D and E) tumor cells.

FIG. 5. Selection of HMW-MAA-expressing B16F10 murine tumor cell clones.

FIG. 6. Lm-HMW-MAA constructs induced antigen-specific immune responses that impede tumor growth.

FIG. 7. In vivo depletion of either CD4+ or CD8+ cells abrogated the efficacy of Lm-HMW-MAA-C vaccine.

FIG. 8. CD8+ T cells from mice vaccinated with Lm-HMW-MAA-C mice inhibited the growth of B16F10 HMW-MAA tumors in vivo.

FIG. 9. Mice vaccinated with Lm-HMW-MAA-C that eliminated the B16F10-HMW-MAA tumor were protected against a second challenge with the same tumor.

FIG. 10. Immunization of HLA-A2/Kb transgenic mice with Lm-HMW-MAA-B and Lm-HMW-MAA-C induced detectable immune responses against two characterized HMW-MAA HLA-A2 epitopes in fragments B and C.

FIG. 11. IFN-γ secretion by T cells stimulated with an HLA-A2 restricted peptide from fragment C of HMW-MAA after one immunization with Lm-HMW-MAA-C in HLA-A2/Kb and wild-type C57B1/6 mice.

FIG. 12. Vaccination of mice with Lm-HMW-MAA-C impairs the growth of NT-2 tumors. In the NYESO-1-vaccinated group, 0/8 showed total tumor regression; 2/5 mice in the HMWMAA group had complete tumor regression (size=0.0 mm). Mice were observed out to 84 days post initial tumor load. Significance determined using the two-tailed Mann-Whitney statistical test, *p<0.05 for NYESO-1 compared to HMWMAA-C on that particular day.

FIG. 13. Vaccination of mice with Lm-HMW-MAA-C impairs the growth of HMW-MAA/AN2-negative tumors. A, C57B1/6 mice were inoculated s.c. with B16F10 cells and either immunized i.p. on days 3, and 17 with Lm-HMW-MAA-C (n=8) or left untreated (n=7). B, BALB/c mice were inoculated s.c. with RENCA cells and immunized i.p. on days 3, 10 and 17 with either Lm-HMW-MAA-C (n=8) or an equivalent dose of a control Lm vaccine. C, FVB/N mice were inoculated s.c. with NT-2 tumor cells and immunized i.p. on days 7, 14 and 21 with either Lm-HMW-MAA-C (n=5) or an equivalent dose of a control Lm vaccine (n=8). Tumor sizes were measured for each individual tumor and the values expressed as the mean diameter in millimeters±SEM. *, P≦0.05, Mann-Whitney test. D, 8-week old FVB/N HER-2/neu transgenic mice were immunized i.p. followed by two additional doses at one week intervals with either Lm-HMW-MAA-C (n=20) or an equivalent dose of a control Lm vaccine (n=14).

FIG. 14. Detection antibodies for anti-IFNgamma. Peptides were added to corresponding wells for a final concentration of 2 uM. Background spots (medium alone) were subtracted from values shown. Statistical test, Mann-Whitney, two-tailed, was performed to determine statistical significance. A p value less than 0.05 was considered to be significant. *p<0.05, is significant for the HMWMAA-C group compared NYESO-1. pEC1=PYNYLSTEV, pEC2=PDSLRDLSVF, plC1=PNQAQMRIL.

FIG. 15. Immunization with Lm-HMW-MAA-C promotes tumor infiltration by CD8⁺ cells and decreases the number of pericytes in blood vessels. A, NT-2 tumors were removed and sectioned for immunofluorescence. Staining groups are numbered (1-3) and each stain is indicated on the left. Sequential tissues were either stained with the pan-vessel marker anti-CD31 or the anti-NG2 antibody for the HMW-MAA mouse homolog AN2, in conjunction with anti-CD8α for possible TILs. Group 3 shows isotype controls for the above antibodies and DAPI staining used as a nuclear marker. A total of 5 tumors were analyzed and a single representative image from each group is shown. CD8⁺ cells around blood vessels are indicated by arrows. B, sequential sections were stained for pericytes by using the anti-NG2 and anti-alpha-smooth-muscle-cell-actin (αSMA) antibodies. Double staining/colocalization of these two antibodies (yellow in merge image) are indicative of pericyte staining (top). Pericyte colocalization was quantitated using Image Pro Software and the number of colocalized objects is shown in the graph (bottom). A total of 3 tumors were analyzed and a single representative image from each group is shown. *, P≦0.05, Mann-Whitney test. Graph shows mean±SEM.

FIG. 16. Lm-LLO-HMWMAA-C vaccine does not reduce wound healing ability of immunized mice nor affect pregnancy or fertility. A, FVB/N female 8 week old, age-matched mice were immunized three times, one week apart with a control Lm vaccine or Lm-LLO-HMWMAA-C or saline alone. On the fourth week mice were shaved and 3 mm punctures through the skin were done on the upper back of anesthetized mice. A total of 5 mice were tested per group and a representative mouse from each group is shown on day 0 and 14 days later. B, FVB/N female mice were immunized three times, one week apart with either a control Lm vaccine (n=4) or Lm-LLO-HMWMAA-C (n=3) and then mated with syngeneic males. Vaginal plug denoted time of coitus and the gestation length, individual pup mass, and the total number of pups per litter were measured. Graphs show mean±SEM. ns, P>0.05, t test.

FIG. 17. Depiction of vaccinia virus constructs expressing different forms of HPV16 E7 protein.

FIG. 18. Induction and penetration of E7 specific CD8⁺ T cells in the spleens and tumors of mice administered TC-1 cells and subsequently administered a recombinant Listeria vaccine (naive, Lm-LLO-E7, Lm-E7, Lm-ActA-E7).

FIG. 19. A. Listeria constructs containing PEST regions lead to greater tumor regression. B. average tumor size in mice treated with Listeria vaccines.

FIG. 20. Listeria constructs containing PEST regions induce a higher percentage of E7-specific lymphocytes in the spleen. A. Data from 1 representative experiment. B. Average and SE of data from 3 experiments.

FIG. 21. Listeria constructs containing PEST regions induce a higher percentage of E7-specific lymphocytes within the tumor. A. Data from 1 representative experiment. B. Average and SE of data from 3 experiments.

FIG. 22. Depiction of vaccinia virus constructs expressing different forms of HPV16 E7 protein.

FIG. 23. VacLLOE7 induces long-term regression of tumors established from 2×10⁵ TC-1 cells in C57BL/6 mice. Mice were injected 11 and 18 days after tumor challenge with 10⁷ PFU of VacLLOE7, VacSigE7LAMP-1, or VacE7/mouse i.p. or were left untreated (naive). 8 mice per treatment group were used, and the cross section for each tumor (average of 2 measurements) is shown for the indicated days after tumor inoculation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides recombinant polypeptides comprising a fragment of a High Molecular Weight Melanoma-Associated Antigen (HMW-MAA), recombinant Listeria strains comprising same, and methods of inducing an immune response and treating and impeding the growth of tumors, comprising administering same.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a recombinant Listeria strain comprising a recombinant polypeptide, the recombinant polypeptide comprising a fragment of a HMW-MAA protein (“HMW-MAA fragment”). In one embodiment, the fragment of a HMW-MAA protein is encoded by the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 23. In one embodiment said recombinant polypeptide further comprises a second polypeptide, which in one embodiment, is a non-HMW-MAA polypeptide and which, in another embodiment, enhances the immunogenicity of

In another embodiment, a recombinant Listeria strain of the present invention expresses a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention. In another embodiment, a recombinant Listeria strain of the present invention comprises an isolated nucleic acid that encodes a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In one embodiment, an “isolated nucleic acid” refers to a nucleic acid segment or fragment which has been separated from sequences which flank it in a naturally occurring state, e.g., a DNA fragment which has been removed from the sequences which are normally adjacent to the fragment, e.g., the sequences adjacent to the fragment in a genome in which it naturally occurs. The term also applies to nucleic acids which have been substantially purified from other components which naturally accompany the nucleic acid, e.g., RNA or DNA or proteins, which naturally accompany it in the cell. The term therefore includes, for example, a recombinant DNA which is incorporated into a vector, into an autonomously replicating plasmid or virus, or into the genomic DNA of a prokaryote or eukaryote, or which exists as a separate molecule (e.g., as a cDNA or a genomic or cDNA fragment produced by PCR or restriction enzyme digestion) independent of other sequences. It also includes a recombinant DNA which is part of a hybrid gene encoding additional polypeptide sequence.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a Listeria, which in one embodiment, is a Listeria vaccine strain comprising an isolated nucleic acid or vector of the present invention. In one embodiment, a “Listeria vaccine strain” is used herein to refer to a recombinant Listeria organism that expresses a HMW-MAA or a portion thereof.

In one embodiment, two polynucleotides of the present invention are operably linked. For example, in one embodiment, polynucleotides encoding LLO and HMW-MAA-C are operably linked. In one embodiment, “operably linked” indicates that a single-stranded or double-stranded nucleic acid moiety comprises the two polynucleotides arranged within the nucleic acid moiety in such a manner that they are expressed together. By way of example, a promoter operably linked to the coding region of a gene is able to promote transcription of the coding region.

In one embodiment, a polynucleotide of the present invention comprises a promoter/regulatory sequence, which in one embodiment, the promoter/regulatory is positioned at the 5′ end of the desired protein coding sequence such that it drives expression of the desired protein in a cell. Together, the nucleic acid encoding the desired protein and its promoter/regulatory sequence comprise a “transgene.”

In one embodiment, the term “promoter/regulatory sequence” refers to a nucleic acid sequence which is required for expression of a gene product operably linked to the promoter/regulatory sequence. In some instances, this sequence may be the core promoter sequence and in other instances, this sequence may also include an enhancer sequence and other regulatory elements which are required for expression of the gene product. The promoter/regulatory sequence may, for example, be one which expresses the gene product in a tissue specific manner.

In one embodiment, a “constitutive” promoter is a nucleotide sequence which, when operably linked with a polynucleotide which encodes or specifies a gene product, causes the gene product to be produced in a living human cell under most or all physiological conditions of the cell.

In one embodiment, an “inducible” promoter is a nucleotide sequence which, when operably linked with a polynucleotide which encodes or specifies a gene product, causes the gene product to be produced in a living cell substantially only when an inducer which corresponds to the promoter is present in the cell.

In one embodiment, a “tissue-specific” promoter is a nucleotide sequence which, when operably linked with a polynucleotide which encodes or specifies a gene product, causes the gene product to be produced in a living human cell substantially only if the cell is a cell of the tissue type corresponding to the promoter.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a recombinant polypeptide comprising a fragment of a HMW-MAA protein operatively linked to a non-HMW-MAA oligopeptide selected from a listeriolysin (LLO) oligopeptide, an ActA oligopeptide, or a PEST-like oligopeptide or a fragment thereof. In one embodiment, the fragment has the same or a similar properties or function as the full length peptide or protein, as may be demonstrated using assays and tools known in the art. Properties and functions of full length peptides and proteins of the present invention are described in detail hereinbelow.

In other related aspects, the invention includes an isolated nucleic acid encoding a truncated ActA, LLO, or PEST protein and an isolated nucleic acid encoding a HMW-MAA protein or fragment operably linked to a nucleic acid comprising a promoter/regulatory sequence such that the nucleic acid is preferably capable of directing expression of the protein encoded by the nucleic acid. Thus, the invention encompasses expression vectors and methods for the introduction of exogenous DNA into cells with concomitant expression of the exogenous DNA in the cells such as those described, for example, in Sambrook et al. (1989, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York), and in Ausubel et al. (1997, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, New York).

The invention thus includes a vector comprising an isolated nucleic acid of the present invention. The incorporation of a desired nucleic acid into a vector and the choice of vectors is well-known in the art as described in, for example, Sambrook et al. (1989, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York), and in Ausubel et al. (1997, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, New York).

In one embodiment, an isolated nucleic acid of the present invention is expressed under the control of a promoter, which in one embodiment, is an hly promoter, a prfA promoter, an ActA promoter, or a p60 promoter. In another embodiment, the promoter is CMV or CAG promoter. Other promoters that may be used are known in the art.

The invention also includes cells, viruses, proviruses, and the like, containing such vectors. Methods for producing cells comprising vectors and/or exogenous nucleic acids are well-known in the art. See, for example, Sambrook et al. (1989, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York), and in Ausubel et al. (1997, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, New York).

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a recombinant polypeptide comprising a fragment of a HMW-MAA protein, wherein the fragment consists of about amino acids (AA) 360-554 of the HMW-MAA protein from which the fragment is derived. In another embodiment, the fragment consists of about AA 701-1130. In another embodiment, the fragment has a sequence selected from SEQ ID No: 21-23. In another embodiment, the fragment consists of about AA 2160-2258. In another embodiment, the fragment has the SEQ ID No: 23. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a recombinant polypeptide comprising a fragment of a HMW-MAA protein with an amino acid sequence encoded by a DNA sequence as set forth in SEQ ID No: 21.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a recombinant polypeptide comprising a fragment of a HMW-MAA protein with an amino acid sequence encoded by a DNA sequence as set forth in SEQ ID No: 22.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a recombinant polypeptide comprising a fragment of a HMW-MAA protein with an amino acid sequence encoded by a DNA sequence as set forth in SEQ ID No: 23.

In another embodiment, a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention further comprises a non-HMW-MAA peptide. In another embodiment, the non-HMW-MAA peptide enhances the immunogenicity of the fragment. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

The non-HMW-MAA peptide is, in another embodiment, a listeriolysin (LLO) oligopeptide. In another embodiment, the non-HMW-MAA peptide is an ActA oligopeptide. In another embodiment, the non-HMW-MAA peptide is a PEST-like oligopeptide. As provided herein, fusion to LLO, ActA, PEST-like sequences and fragments thereof enhances the cell-mediated immunogenicity of antigens. In one embodiment, fusion to LLO, ActA, PEST-like sequences and fragments thereof enhances the cell-mediated immunogenicity of antigens in a variety of expression systems. In one embodiment, the expression system is viral, while in another embodiment, the expression system is bacterial. In another embodiment, the non-HMW-MAA peptide is any other immunogenic non-HMW-MAA peptide known in the art. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

An LLO oligopeptide of methods and compositions of the present invention is, in another embodiment, a non-hemolytic LLO oligopeptide. In another embodiment, the oligopeptide is an LLO fragment. In another embodiment, the oligopeptide is a complete LLO protein. In another embodiment, the oligopeptide is any LLO protein or fragment thereof known in the art. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In one embodiment, the LLO protein is the major virulence factor of Lm responsible for the lysis of the phagolysosome. In one embodiment, LLO is highly immunogenic, in another embodiment, LLO induces maturation of antigen-specific T cells into Th1 cells, and in another embodiment, LLO induces interferon-gamma secretion by T cells.

In one embodiment, the LLO fragment comprises a mutation in the cholesterol binding domain or a deletion within the cholesterol binding domain, or a deletion of the cholesterol binding domain, which in one embodiment, renders the LLO non-hemolytic. In another embodiment, the LLO fragment is rendered non-hemolytic by chemical treatment. In another embodiment, the chemical treatment comprises glutaraldehyde. In another embodiment, the chemical treatment comprises a similarly acting compound. In another embodiment, the chemical treatment comprises any other suitable compound known in the art. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the LLO protein utilized to construct vaccines of the present invention has the following sequence:

MKKIMLVFITLILVSLPIAQQTEAKDASAFNKENSIS SMAPPASPPASPKTPIEKKHADEIDKYIQ GLDYNKNNVLVYHGDAVTNVPPRKGYKDGNEYIVVEKKKKSINQNNADIQVVNAISSLTYPG ALVKANSELVENQPDVLPVKRDSLTLSIDLPGMTNQDNKIVVKNATKSNVNNAVNTLVERWN EKYAQAYPNVSAKIDYDDEMAYSES QLIAKFGTAFKAVNNSLNVNFGAISEGKMQEEVISFKQ IYYNVNVNEPTRPSRFFGKAVTKEQLQALGVNAENPPAYIS SVAYGRQVYLKLSTNSHSTKVK AAFDAAVSGKSVSGDVELTNIIKNS SFKAVIYGGSAKDEVQIIDGNLGDLRDILKKGATFNRETP GVPIAYTTNFLKDNELAVIKNNSEYIETTSKAYTDGKINIDHS GGYVAQFNISWDEVNYDPEGN EIVQHKNWSENNKSKLAHFTS SIYLPGNARNINVYAKECTGLAWEWWRTVIDDRNLPLVKNR NISIWGTTLYPKYSNKVDNPIE (GenBank Accession No. P13128; SEQ ID NO: 1; the nucleic acid sequence is set forth in GenBank Accession No. X15127). In one embodiment, the first 25 AA of the proprotein corresponding to this sequence are the signal sequence and are cleaved from LLO when it is secreted by the bacterium. Thus, according to this embodiment, the full length active LLO protein is 504 residues long. In another embodiment, the above sequence is used as the source of the LLO fragment incorporated in a vaccine of the present invention. In another embodiment, an LLO AA sequence of methods and compositions of the present invention is a homologue of SEQ ID No: 1. In another embodiment, the LLO AA sequence is a variant of SEQ ID No: 1. In another embodiment, the LLO AA sequence is a fragment of SEQ ID No: 1. In another embodiment, the LLO AA sequence is an isoform of SEQ ID No: 1. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In one embodiment, an isoform is a peptide or protein that has the same function and a similar or identical sequence to another peptide or protein, but is the product of a different gene. In one embodiment, a variant is a peptide or protein that differs from another peptide or protein in a minor way, which in one embodiment, refers to a mutation in a region that does not affect the function of the peptide or protein, and in another embodiment, a conservative mutation that does not affect the function of the peptide or protein.

In another embodiment, an LLO protein fragment is utilized in compositions and methods of the present invention. In another embodiment, the LLO fragment is an N-terminal fragment. In another embodiment, the N-terminal LLO fragment has the sequence:

MKKIMLVFITLILVSLPIAQQTEAKDASAFNKENSIS SVAPPASPPASPKTPIEKKHADEIDKYIQ GLDYNKNNVLVYHGDAVTNVPPRKGYKDGNEYIVVEKKKKSINQNNADIQVVNAISSLTYP GALVKANSELVENQPDVLPVKRDSLTLSIDLPGMTNQDNKIVVKNATKSNVNNAVNTLVER WNEKYAQAYSNVSAKIDYDDEMAYSESQLIAKFGTAFKAVNNSLNVNFGAISEGKMQEEVIS FKQIYYNVNVNEPTRPSRFFGKAVTKEQLQALGVNAENPPAYISSVAYGRQVYLKLSTNSHST KVKAAFDAAVSGKSVS GDVELTNIIKNSSFKAVIYGGSAKDEVQIIDGNLGDLRDILKKGATFN RETPGVPIAYTTNFLKDNELAVIKNNSEYIETTSKAYTDGKINIDHSGGYVAQFNISWDEVNYD (SEQ ID NO: 2). In another embodiment, an LLO AA sequence of methods and compositions of the present invention comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID No: 2. In another embodiment, the LLO AA sequence is a homologue of SEQ ID No: 2. In another embodiment, the LLO AA sequence is a variant of SEQ ID No: 2. In another embodiment, the LLO AA sequence is a fragment of SEQ ID No: 2. In another embodiment, the LLO AA sequence is an isoform of SEQ ID No: 2. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the LLO fragment has the sequence:

MKKIMLVFITLILVSLPIAQQTEAKDASAFNKENSIS SVAPPASPPASPKTPIEKKHADEIDKYIQ GLDYNKNNVLVYHGDAVTNVPPRKGYKDGNEYIVVEKKKKSINQNNADIQVVNAISSLTYP GALVKANSELVENQPDVLPVKRDSLTLSIDLPGMTNQDNKIVVKNATKSNVNNAVNTLVER WNEKYAQAYSNVSAKIDYDDEMAYSESQLIAKFGTAFKAVNNSLNVNFGAISEGKMQEEVI SFKQIYYNVNVNEPTRPSRFFGKAVTKEQLQALGVNAENPPAYISSVAYGRQVYLKLSTNSH STKVKAAFDAAVSGKSVS GDVELTNIIKNSSFKAVIYGGSAKDEVQIiDGNLGDLRDILKKGA TFNRETPGVPIAYTTNFLKDNELAVIKNNSEYIETTSKAYTD (SEQ ID NO: 3). In another embodiment, an LLO AA sequence of methods and compositions of the present invention comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID No: 3. In another embodiment, the LLO AA sequence is a homologue of SEQ ID No: 3. In another embodiment, the LLO AA sequence is a variant of SEQ ID No: 3. In another embodiment, the LLO AA sequence is a fragment of SEQ ID No: 3. In another embodiment, the LLO AA sequence is an isoform of SEQ ID No: 3. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the LLO fragment of methods and compositions of the present invention comprises a PEST-like domain. In another embodiment, an LLO fragment that comprises a PEST sequence is utilized as part of a composition or in the methods of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the LLO fragment does not contain the activation domain at the carboxy terminus. In another embodiment, the LLO fragment does not include cysteine 484. In another embodiment, the LLO fragment is a non-hemolytic fragment. In another embodiment, the LLO fragment is rendered non-hemolytic by deletion or mutation of the activation domain. In another embodiment, the LLO fragment is rendered non-hemolytic by deletion or mutation of cysteine 484. In another embodiment, an LLO sequence is rendered non-hemolytic by deletion or mutation at another location.

In another embodiment, the LLO fragment consists of about the first 441 AA of the LLO protein. In another embodiment, the LLO fragment comprises about the first 400-441 AA of the 529 AA full length LLO protein. In another embodiment, the LLO fragment corresponds to AA 1-441 of an LLO protein disclosed herein. In another embodiment, the LLO fragment consists of about the first 420 AA of LLO. In another embodiment, the LLO fragment corresponds to AA 1-420 of an LLO protein disclosed herein. In another embodiment, the LLO fragment consists of about AA 20-442 of LLO. In another embodiment, the LLO fragment corresponds to AA 20-442 of an LLO protein disclosed herein. In another embodiment, any ΔLLO without the activation domain comprising cysteine 484, and in particular without cysteine 484, are suitable for methods and compositions of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the LLO fragment corresponds to the first 400 AA of an LLO protein. In another embodiment, the LLO fragment corresponds to the first 300 AA of an LLO protein. In another embodiment, the LLO fragment corresponds to the first 200 AA of an LLO protein. In another embodiment, the LLO fragment corresponds to the first 100 AA of an LLO protein. In another embodiment, the LLO fragment corresponds to the first 50 AA of an LLO protein, which in one embodiment, comprises one or more PEST-like sequences.

In another embodiment, the LLO fragment contains residues of a homologous LLO protein that correspond to one of the above AA ranges. The residue numbers need not, in another embodiment, correspond exactly with the residue numbers enumerated above; e.g. if the homologous LLO protein has an insertion or deletion, relative to an LLO protein utilized herein.

Each LLO protein and LLO fragment represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, homologues of LLO from other species, including known lysins, such as streptolysin O, perfringolysin O, pneumolysin, etc, or fragments thereof may be used as the non-HMW-MAA.

In another embodiment of methods and compositions of the present invention, a fragment of an ActA protein is fused to the HMW-MAA fragment. In another embodiment, the fragment of an ActA protein has the sequence:

MRAMMVVFITANCITINPDIIFAATDSEDS SLNTDEWEEEKTEEQPSEVNTGPRYETAR EVSSRDIKELEKSNKVRNTNKADLIAMLKEKAEKGPNINNNNSEQTENAAINEEASGADRPAI QVERRHPGLPSDSAAEIKKRRKAIASSDSELESLTYPDKPTKVNKKKVAKESVADASESDLDS SMQSADES SPQPLKANQQPFFPKVFKKIKDAGKWVRDKIDENPEVKKAIVDKSAGLIDQLLTK KKSEEVNASDFPPPPTDEELRLALPETPMLLGFNAPATSEPSSFEFPPPPTDEELRLALPETPMLL GFNAPATSEPSSFEFPPPPTEDELEIIRETASSLDSSFTRGDLASLRNAINRHSQNFSDFPPIPTEEE LNGRGGRP (SEQ ID No: 4). In another embodiment, an ActA AA sequence of methods and compositions of the present invention comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID No: 4. In another embodiment, the ActA AA sequence is a homologue of SEQ ID No: 4. In another embodiment, the ActA AA sequence is a variant of SEQ ID No: 4. In another embodiment, the ActA AA sequence is a fragment of SEQ ID No: 4. In another embodiment, the ActA AA sequence is an isoform of SEQ ID No: 4. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the ActA fragment is encoded by a recombinant nucleotide comprising the sequence:

ATGCGTGCGATGATGGTGGTTTTCATTACTGCCAATTGCATTACGATTAACCCCGACATAA TATTTGCAGCGACAGATAGCGAAGATTCTAGTCTAAACACAGATGAATGGGAAGAAGAAA AAACAGAAGAGCAACCAAGCGAGGTAAATACGGGACCAAGATACGAAACTGCACGTGAA GTAAGTTCACGTGATATTAAAGAACTAGAAAAATCGAATAAAGTGAGAAATACGAACAAA GCAGACCTAATAGCAATGTTGAAAGAAAAAGCAGAAAAAGGTCCAAATATCAATAATAAC AACAGTGAACAAACTGAGAATGCGGCTATAAATGAAGAGGCTTCAGGAGCCGACCGACCA GCTATACAAGTGGAGCGTCGTCATCCAGGATTGCCATCGGATAGCGCAGCGGAAATTAAAA AAAGAAGGAAAGCCATAGCATCATCGGATAGTGAGCTTGAAAGCCTTACTTATCCGGATAA ACCAACAAAAGTAAATAAGAAAAAAGTGGCGAAAGAGTCAGTTGCGGATGCTTCTGAAAG TGACTTAGATTCTAGCATGCAGTCAGCAGATGAGTCTTCACCACAACCTTTAAAAGCAAAC CAACAACCATTTTTCCCTAAAGTATTTAAAAAAATAAAAGATGCGGGGAAATGGGTACGTG ATAAAATCGACGAAAATCCTGAAGTAAAGAAAGCGATTGTTGATAAAAGTGCAGGGTTAA TTGACCAATTATTAACCAAAAAGAAAAGTGAAGAGGTAAATGCTTCGGACTTCCCGCCACC ACCTACGGATGAAGAGTTAAGACTTGCTTTGCCAGAGACACCAATGCTTCTTGGTTTTAAT GCTCCTGCTACATCAGAACCGAGCTCATTCGAATTTCCACCACCACCTACGGATGAAGAGT TAAGACTTGCTTTGCCAGAGACGCCAATGCTTCTTGGTTTTAATGCTCCTGCTACATCGGAA CCGAGCTCGTTCGAATTTCCACCGCCTCCAACAGAAGATGAACTAGAAATCATCCGGGAA ACAGCATCCTCGCTAGATTCTAGTTTTACAAGAGGGGATTTAGCTAGTTTGAGAAATGCTA TTAATCGCCATAGTCAAAATTTCTCTGATTTCCCACCAATCCCAACAGAAGAAGAGTTGAA CGGGAGAGGCGGTAGACCA (SEQ ID NO: 5). In another embodiment, the recombinant nucleotide has the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 5. In another embodiment, an ActA-encoding nucleotide of methods and compositions of the present invention comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID No: 5. In another embodiment, the ActA-encoding nucleotide is a homologue of SEQ ID No: 5. In another embodiment, the ActA-encoding nucleotide is a variant of SEQ ID No: 5. In another embodiment, the ActA-encoding nucleotide is a fragment of SEQ ID No: 5. In another embodiment, the ActA-encoding nucleotide is an isoform of SEQ ID No: 5. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment of methods and compositions of the present invention, a fragment of an ActA protein is fused to the HMW-MAA fragment. In another embodiment, the fragment of an ActA protein has the sequence as set forth in Genbank Accession No. AAF04762. In another embodiment, an ActA AA sequence of methods and compositions of the present invention comprises the sequence set forth in Genbank Accession No. AAF04762. In another embodiment, the ActA AA sequence is a homologue of Genbank Accession No. AAF04762. In another embodiment, the ActA AA sequence is a variant of Genbank Accession No. AAF04762.

In another embodiment, the ActA AA sequence is a fragment of Genbank Accession No. AAF04762. In another embodiment, the ActA AA sequence is an isoform of Genbank Accession No. AAF04762. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the ActA fragment is encoded by a recombinant nucleotide comprising the sequence as set forth in Genbank Accession No. AF103807. In another embodiment, the recombinant nucleotide has the sequence set forth in Genbank Accession No. AF103807. In another embodiment, an ActA-encoding nucleotide of methods and compositions of the present invention comprises the sequence set forth in Genbank Accession No. AF103807. In another embodiment, the ActA-encoding nucleotide is a homologue of Genbank Accession No. AF103807. In another embodiment, the ActA-encoding nucleotide is a variant of Genbank Accession No. AF103807. In another embodiment, the ActA-encoding nucleotide is a fragment of Genbank Accession No. AF103807. In another embodiment, the ActA-encoding nucleotide is an isoform of Genbank Accession No. AF103807. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the ActA fragment is any other ActA fragment known in the art. In another embodiment, a recombinant nucleotide of the present invention comprises any other sequence that encodes a fragment of an ActA protein. In another embodiment, the recombinant nucleotide comprises any other sequence that encodes an entire ActA protein. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment of methods and compositions of the present invention, a PEST-like AA sequence is fused to the HMW-MAA fragment. In another embodiment, the PEST-like AA sequence is KENSISSMAPPASPPASPKTPIEKKHADEIDK (SEQ ID NO: 6). In another embodiment, the PEST-like sequence is KENSISSMAPPASPPASPK (SEQ ID No: 7). In another embodiment, fusion of an antigen to any LLO sequence that includes one of the PEST-like AA sequences enumerated herein can enhance cell mediated immunity against HMW-MAA.

In another embodiment, the PEST-like AA sequence is a PEST-like sequence from a Listeria ActA protein. In another embodiment, the PEST-like sequence is KTEEQPSEVNTGPR (SEQ ID NO: 8), KASVTDTSEGDLDSSMQSADESTPQPLK (SEQ ID NO: 9), KNEEVNASDFPPPPTDEELR (SEQ ID NO: 10), or RGGIPTSEEFSSLNSGDFTDDENSETTEEEIDR (SEQ ID NO: 11). In another embodiment, the PEST-like sequence is a variant of the PEST-like sequence described hereinabove, which in one embodiment, is KESVVDASESDLDSSMQSADESTPQPLK (SEQ ID NO: 46), KSEEVNASDFPPPPTDEELR (SEQ ID NO: 47), or RGGRPTSEEFSSLNSGDFTDDENSETTEEEIDR (SEQ ID NO: 48), as would be understood by a skilled artisan. In another embodiment, the PEST-like sequence is from Listeria seeligeri cytolysin, encoded by the lso gene. In another embodiment, the PEST-like sequence is RSEVTISPAETPESPPATP (SEQ ID NO: 12).

In another embodiment, the PEST-like sequence is from Streptolysin O protein of Streptococcus sp. In another embodiment, the PEST-like sequence is from Streptococcus pyogenes Streptolysin O, e.g. KQNTASTETTTTNEQPK (SEQ ID NO: 13) at AA 35-51. In another embodiment, the PEST-like sequence is from Streptococcus equisimilis Streptolysin O. e.g. KQNTANTETTTTNEQPK (SEQ ID NO: 14) at AA 38-54. In another embodiment, the PEST-like sequence has a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 8-14. In another embodiment, the PEST-like sequence has a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 6-14. In another embodiment, the PEST-like sequence is another PEST-like AA sequence derived from a prokaryotic organism.

Identification of PEST-like sequences is well known in the art, and is described, for example in Rogers S et al (Amino acid sequences common to rapidly degraded proteins: the PEST hypothesis. Science 1986; 234(4774):364-8) and Rechsteiner M et al (PEST sequences and regulation by proteolysis. Trends Biochem Sci 1996; 21(7):267-71). “PEST-like sequence” refers, in another embodiment, to a region rich in proline (P), glutamic acid (E), serine (S), and threonine (T) residues. In another embodiment, the PEST-like sequence is flanked by one or more clusters containing several positively charged amino acids. In another embodiment, the PEST-like sequence mediates rapid intracellular degradation of proteins containing it. In another embodiment, the PEST-like sequence fits an algorithm disclosed in Rogers et al. In another embodiment, the PEST-like sequence fits an algorithm disclosed in Rechsteiner et al. In another embodiment, the PEST-like sequence contains one or more internal phosphorylation sites, and phosphorylation at these sites precedes protein degradation.

In one embodiment, PEST-like sequences of prokaryotic organisms are identified in accordance with methods such as described by, for example Rechsteiner and Rogers (1996, Trends Biochem. Sci. 21:267-271) for LM and in Rogers S et al (Science 1986; 234(4774):364-8). Alternatively, PEST-like AA sequences from other prokaryotic organisms can also be identified based on this method. Other prokaryotic organisms wherein PEST-like AA sequences would be expected to include, but are not limited to, other Listeria species. In one embodiment, the PEST-like sequence fits an algorithm disclosed in Rogers et al. In another embodiment, the PEST-like sequence fits an algorithm disclosed in Rechsteiner et al. In another embodiment, the PEST-like sequence is identified using the PEST-find program.

In another embodiment, identification of PEST motifs is achieved by an initial scan for positively charged AA R, H, and K within the specified protein sequence. All AA between the positively charged flanks are counted and only those motifs are considered further, which contain a number of AA equal to or higher than the window-size parameter. In another embodiment, a PEST-like sequence must contain at least 1 P, 1 D or E, and at least 1 S or T.

In another embodiment, the quality of a PEST motif is refined by means of a scoring parameter based on the local enrichment of critical AA as well as the motifs hydrophobicity. Enrichment of D, E, P, S and T is expressed in mass percent (w/w) and corrected for 1 equivalent of D or E, 1 of P and 1 of S or T. In another embodiment, calculation of hydrophobicity follows in principle the method of J. Kyte and R. F. Doolittle (Kyte, J and Dootlittle, R F. J. Mol. Biol. 157, 105 (1982). For simplified calculations, Kyte-Doolittle hydropathy indices, which originally ranged from −4.5 for arginine to +4.5 for isoleucine, are converted to positive integers, using the following linear transformation, which yielded values from 0 for arginine to 90 for isoleucine.
Hydropathy index=10*Kyte-Doolittle hydropathy index+45

In another embodiment, a potential PEST motif's hydrophobicity is calculated as the sum over the products of mole percent and hydrophobicity index for each AA species. The desired PEST score is obtained as combination of local enrichment term and hydrophobicity term as expressed by the following equation:
PEST score=0.55*DEPST−0.5*hydrophobicity index.

In another embodiment, “PEST sequence”, “PEST-like sequence” or “PEST-like sequence peptide” refers to a peptide having a score of at least +5, using the above algorithm. In another embodiment, the term refers to a peptide having a score of at least 6. In another embodiment, the peptide has a score of at least 7. In another embodiment, the score is at least 8. In another embodiment, the score is at least 9. In another embodiment, the score is at least 10. In another embodiment, the score is at least 11. In another embodiment, the score is at least 12. In another embodiment, the score is at least 13. In another embodiment, the score is at least 14. In another embodiment, the score is at least 15. In another embodiment, the score is at least 16. In another embodiment, the score is at least 17. In another embodiment, the score is at least 18. In another embodiment, the score is at least 19. In another embodiment, the score is at least 20. In another embodiment, the score is at least 21. In another embodiment, the score is at least 22. In another embodiment, the score is at least 22. In another embodiment, the score is at least 24. In another embodiment, the score is at least 24. In another embodiment, the score is at least 25. In another embodiment, the score is at least 26. In another embodiment, the score is at least 27. In another embodiment, the score is at least 28. In another embodiment, the score is at least 29. In another embodiment, the score is at least 30. In another embodiment, the score is at least 32. In another embodiment, the score is at least 35. In another embodiment, the score is at least 38. In another embodiment, the score is at least 40. In another embodiment, the score is at least 45. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the PEST-like sequence is identified using any other method or algorithm known in the art, e.g the CaSPredictor (Garay-Malpartida H M, Occhiucci J M, Alves J, Belizario J E. Bioinformatics. 2005 June; 21 Suppl 1:i169-76). In another embodiment, the following method is used:

A PEST index is calculated for each stretch of appropriate length (e.g. a 30-35 AA stretch) by assigning a value of 1 to the AA Ser, Thr, Pro, Glu, Asp, Asn, or Gln. The coefficient value (CV) for each of the PEST residue is 1 and for each of the other AA (non-PEST) is 0.

Each method for identifying a PEST-like sequence represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the PEST-like sequence is any other PEST-like sequence known in the art. Each PEST-like sequence and type thereof represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

“Fusion to a PEST-like sequence” refers, in another embodiment, to fusion to a protein fragment comprising a PEST-like sequence. In another embodiment, the term includes cases wherein the protein fragment comprises surrounding sequence other than the PEST-like sequence. In another embodiment, the protein fragment consists of the PEST-like sequence. Thus, in another embodiment, “fusion” refers to two peptides or protein fragments either linked together at their respective ends or embedded one within the other. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA fragment of methods and compositions of the present invention is fused to the non-HMW-MAA AA sequence. In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA fragment is embedded within the non-HMW-MAA AA sequence. In another embodiment, an HMW-MAA-derived peptide is incorporated into an LLO fragment, ActA protein or fragment, or PEST-like sequence. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, fusion proteins of the present invention are prepared by a process comprising subcloning of appropriate sequences, followed by expression of the resulting nucleotide. In another embodiment, subsequences are cloned and the appropriate subsequences cleaved using appropriate restriction enzymes. The fragments are then ligated, in another embodiment, to produce the desired DNA sequence. In another embodiment, DNA encoding the fusion protein is produced using DNA amplification methods, for example polymerase chain reaction (PCR). First, the segments of the native DNA on either side of the new terminus are amplified separately. The 5′ end of the one amplified sequence encodes the peptide linker, while the 3′ end of the other amplified sequence also encodes the peptide linker. Since the 5′ end of the first fragment is complementary to the 3′ end of the second fragment, the two fragments (after partial purification, e.g. on LMP agarose) can be used as an overlapping template in a third PCR reaction. The amplified sequence will contain codons, the segment on the carboxy side of the opening site (now forming the amino sequence), the linker, and the sequence on the amino side of the opening site (now forming the carboxyl sequence). The insert is then ligated into a plasmid. In another embodiment, a similar strategy is used to produce a protein wherein an HMW-MAA fragment is embedded within a heterologous peptide.

In one embodiment, LLO sequences fused to a HMW-MAA fragment such as A, B, or C or Listeria expressing a HMW-MAA fragment increased the immune response to said peptide (Example 5), conferred antitumor immunity (Examples 4 and 5), and generated peptide-specific IFN-gamma-secreting CD8+ cells (Example 5). In one embodiment, ActA, LLO and/or PEST-like sequences fused to a peptide such as HPV E7 increased the immune response to said peptide, conferred antitumor immunity, and generated peptide-specific IFN-gamma-secreting CD8+ cells (Examples 7 and 8), even when the fusion peptide was expressed in a non-Listeria vector (Example 9).

In another embodiment, a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention is made by a process comprising the step of chemically conjugating a first polypeptide comprising an HMW-MAA fragment to a second polypeptide comprising a non-HMW-MAA peptide. In another embodiment, an HMW-MAA fragment is conjugated to a second polypeptide comprising the non-HMW-MAA peptide. In another embodiment, a peptide comprising an HMW-MAA fragment is conjugated to a non-HMW-MAA peptide. In another embodiment, an HMW-MAA fragment is conjugated to a non-HMW-MAA peptide. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In one embodiment, HMW-MAA used in the compositions and methods of the present invention, are involved in the adhesion, spreading and migration of melanoma cells and may have a role in cell invasion and metastasis. In one embodiment, HMW-MAA has a restricted expression in normal tissues, although it is expressed at high levels on both activated pericytes and pericytes in tumor angiogenic vasculature, which are associated with neovascularization in vivo.

The HMW-MAA protein from which HMW-MAA fragments of the present invention are derived is, in another embodiment, a human HMW-MAA protein. In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA protein is a mouse protein. In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA protein is a rat protein. In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA protein is a primate protein. In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA protein is from any other species known in the art. In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA protein is melanoma chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (MCSP). In another embodiment, an AN2 protein is used in methods and compositions of the present invention. In one embodiment, AN2 is a murine homolog of HMW-MAA, and in one embodiment has 80% homology to HMW-MAA as well as a similar expression pattern and function. In another embodiment, an NG2 protein is used in methods and compositions of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA protein of methods and compositions of the present invention has the sequence:

MQSGRGPPLPAPGLALALTLTMLARLASAASFFGENHLEVPVATALTDIDLQLQFSTSQ PEALLLLAAGPADHLLLQLYS GRLQVRLVLGQEELRLQTPAETLLSDSIPHTVVLTVVEGWATL SVDGFLNASSAVPGAPLEVPYGLFVGGTGTLGLPYLRGTSRPLRGCLHAATLNGRSLLRPLTPD VHEGCAEEFSASDDVALGFSGPHSLAAFPAWGTQDEGTLEFTLTTQSRQAPLAFQAGGRRGDF IYVDIFEGHLRAVVEKGQGTVLLHNSVPVADGQPHEVSVHINAHRLEISVDQYPTHTSNRGVLS YLEPRGSLLLGGLDAEASRHLQEHRLGLTPEATNASLLGCMEDLSVNGQRRGLREALLTRNMA AGCRLEEEEYEDDAYGHYEAFSTLAPEAWPAMELPEPCVPEPGLPPVFANFTQLLTISPLVVAE GGTAWLEWRHVQPTLDLMEAELRKSQVLFSVTRGARHGELELDIPGAQARKMFTLLDVVNR KARFIHDGSEDTSDQLVLEVSVTARVPMPSCLRRGQTYLLPIQVNPVNDPPHIIFPHGSLMVILE HTQKPLGPEVFQAYDPDSACEGLTFQVLGTS SGLPVERRDQPGEPATEFSCRELEAGSLVYVH RGGPAQDLTFRVSDGLQASPPATLKVVAIRPAIQIHRSTGLRLAQGSAMPILPANLSVETNAVG QDVSVLFRVTGALQFGELQKQGAGGVEGAEWWATQAFHQRDVEQGRVRYLSTDPQHHAYD TVENLALEVQVGQEILSNLSFPVTIQRATVWMLRLEPLHTQNTQQETLTTAHLEATLEEAGPSPP TFHYEVVQAPRKGNLQLQGTRLSDGQGFTQDDIQAGRVTYGATARASEAVEDTFRFRVTAPPY FSPLYTFPIHIGGDPDAPVLTNVLLVVPEGGEGVLSADHLFVKSLNSASYLYEVMERPRHGRLA WRGTQDKTTMVTSFTNEDLLRGRLVYQHDDSETTEDDIPFVATRQGES SGDMAWEEVRGVFR VAIQPVNDHAPVQTISRIFHVARGGRRLLTTDDVAFSDADS GFADAQLVLTRKDLLFGSIVAVD EPTRPIYRFTQEDLRKRRVLFVHSGADRGWIQLQVSDGQHQATALLEVQASEPYLRVANGSSL VVPQGGQGTIDTAVLHLDTNLDIRSGDEVHYHVTAGPRWGQLVRAGQPATAFSQQDLLDGAV LYSHNGSLSPRDTMAFSVEAGPVHTDATLQVTIALEGPLAPLKLVRHKKIYVFQGEAAEIRRDQ LEAAQEAVPPADIVFSVKSPPSAGYLVMVSRGALADEPPSLDPVQSFSQEAVDTGRVLYLHSRP EAWSDAFSLDVAS GLGAPLEGVLVELEVLPAAIPLEAQNFSVPEGGSLTLAPPLLRVSGPYFPTL LGLSLQVLEPPQHGALQKEDGPQARTLSAFSWRMVEEQLIRYVHDGSETLTDSFVLMANASEM DRQSHPVAFTVTVLPVNDQPPILTTNTGLQMWEGATAPIPAEALRSTDGDSGSEDLVYTIEQPS NGRVVLRGAPGTEVRSFTQAQLDGGLVLFSHRGTLDGGFRFRLSDGEHTSPGHFFRVTAQKQV LLSLKGSQTLTVCPGSVQPLSSQTLRASSSAGTDPQLLLYRVVRGPQLGRLFHAQQDSTGEALV NFTQAEVYAGNILYEHEMPPEPFWEAHDTLELQLS SPPARDVAATLAVAVSFEAACPQRPSHL WKNKGLWVPEGQRARITVAALDASNLLASVPSPQRSEHDVLFQVTQFPSRGQLLVSEEPLHAG QPHFLQSQLAAGQLVYAHGGGGTQQDGFHFRAHLQGPAGASVAGPQTSEAFAITVRDVNERP PQPQASVPLRLTRGSRAPISRAQLSVVDPDSAPGEIEYEVQRAPHNGFLSLVGGGLGPVTRFTQA DVDSGRLAFVANGSSVAGIFQLSMSDGASPPLPMSLAVDILPSAIEVQLRAPLEVPQALGRSSLS QQQLRVVSDREEPEAAYRLIQGPQYGHLLVGGRPTSAFS QFQIDQGEVVFAFTNFSSSHDHFRV LALARGVNASAVVNVTVRALLHVWAGGPWPQGATLRLDPTVLDAGELANRTGSVPRFRLLE GPRHGRVVRVPRARTEPGGSQLVEQFTQQDLEDGRLGLEVGRPEGRAPGPAGDSLTLELWAQ GVPPAVASLDFATEPYNAARPYSVALLSVPEAARTEAGKPES STPTGEPGPMASSPEPAVAKG GFLSFLEANMFSVIIPMCLVLLLLALILPLLFYLRKRNKTGKHDVQVLTAKPRNGLAGDTETFR KVEPGQAIPLTAVPGQGPPPGGQPDPELLQFCRTPNPALKNGQYWV (SEQ ID No: 15). In another embodiment, an HMW-MAA AA sequence of methods and compositions of the present invention comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID No: 15. In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA AA sequence is a homologue of SEQ ID No: 15. In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA AA sequence is a variant of SEQ ID No: 15. In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA AA sequence is a fragment of SEQ ID No: 15. In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA AA sequence is an isoform of SEQ ID No: 15. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA protein of methods and compositions of the present invention is encoded by the sequence:

atgcagtccggccgcggccccccacttccagcccccggcctggccttggctttgaccctgactatgttggccagacttgcatccgcggcttccttcttcg gtgagaaccacctggaggtgcctgtggccacggctctgaccgacatagacctgcagctgcagttctccacgtcccagcccgaagccctccttctcctg gcagcaggcccagctgaccacctcctgctgcagctctactctggacgcctgcaggtcagacttgttctgggccaggaggagctgaggctgcagactc cagcagagacgctgctgagtgactccatcccccacactgtggtgctgactgtcgtagagggctgggccacgttgtcagtcgatgggtttctgaacgcct cctcagcagtcccaggagcccccctagaggtcccctatgggctctttgttgggggcactgggacccttggcctgccctacctgaggggaaccagccg acccctgaggggttgcctccatgcagccaccctcaatggccgcagcctcctccggcctctgacccccgatgtgcatgagggctgtgctgaagagttttc tgccagtgatgatgtggccctgggcttctctgggccccactctctggctgccttccctgcctggggcactcaggacgaaggaaccctagagtttacactc accacacagagccggcaggcacccttggccttccaggcagggggccggcgtggggacttcatctatgtggacatatttgagggccacctgcgggcc gtggtggagaagggccagggtaccgtattgctccacaacagtgtgcctgtggccgatgggcagccccatgaggtcagtgtccacatcaatgctcaccg gctggaaatctccgtggaccagtaccctacgcatacttcgaaccgaggagtcctcagctacctggagccacggggcagtctccttctcggggggctgg atgcagaggcctctcgtcacctccaggaacaccgcctgggcctgacaccagaggccaccaatgcctccctgctgggctgcatggaagacctcagtgtc aatggccagaggcgggggctgcgggaagctttgctgacgcgcaacatggcagccggctgcaggctggaggaggaggagtatgaggacgatgccta tggacattatgaagctttctccaccctggcccctgaggcttggccagccatggagctgcctgagccatgcgtgcctgagccagggctgcctcctgtcttt gccaatttcacccagctgctgactatcagcccactggtggtggccgaggggggcacagcctggcttgagtggaggcatgtgcagcccacgctggacct gatggaggctgagctgcgcaaatcccaggtgctgttcagcgtgacccgaggggcacgccatggcgagctcgagctggacatcccgggagcccagg cacgaaaaatgttcaccctcctggacgtggtgaaccgcaaggcccgcttcatccacgatggctctgaggacacctccgaccagctggtgctggaggtg tcggtgacggctcgggtgcccatgccctcatgccttcggaggggccaaacatacctcctgcccatccaggtcaaccctgtcaatgacccaccccacatc atcttcccacatggcagcctcatggtgatcctggaacacacgcagaagccgctggggcctgaggttttccaggcctatgacccggactctgcctgtgag ggcctcaccttccaggtccttggcacctcctctggcctccccgtggagcgccgagaccagcctggggagccggcgaccgagttctcctgccgggagtt ggaggccggcagcctagtctatgtccaccgcggtggtcctgcacaggacttgacgttccgggtcagcgatggactgcaggccagccccccggccac gctgaaggtggtggccatccggccggccatacagatccaccgcagcacagggttgcgactggcccaaggctctgccatgcccatcttgcccgccaac ctgtcggtggagaccaatgccgtggggcaggatgtgagcgtgctgttccgcgtcactggggccctgcagtttggggagctgcagaagcagggggcag gtggggtggagggtgctgagtggtgggccacacaggcgttccaccagcgggatgtggagcagggccgcgtgaggtacctgagcactgacccacagc accacgcttacgacaccgtggagaacctggccctggaggtgcaggtgggccaggagatcctgagcaatctgtccttcccagtgaccatccagagagc cactgtgtggatgctgcggctggagccactgcacactcagaacacccagcaggagaccctcaccacagcccacctggaggccaccctggaggaggc aggcccaagccccccaaccttccattatgaggtggttcaggctcccaggaaaggcaaccttcaactacagggcacaaggctgtcagatggccagggc ttcacccaggatgacatacaggctggccgggtgacctatggggccacagcacgtgcctcagaggcagtcgaggacaccttccgtttccgtgtcacagc tccaccatatttctccccactctataccttccccatccacattggtggtgacccagatgcgcctgtcctcaccaatgtcctcctcgtggtgcctgagggtgg tgagggtgtcctctctgctgaccacctctttgtcaagagtctcaacagtgccagctacctctatgaggtcatggagcggccccgccatgggaggttggct tggcgtgggacacaggacaagaccactatggtgacatccttcaccaatgaagacctgttgcgtggccggctggtctaccagcatgatgactccgagac cacagaagatgatatcccatttgttgctacccgccagggcgagagcagtggtgacatggcctgggaggaggtacggggtgtcttccgagtggccatcc agcccgtgaatgaccacgcccctgtgcagaccatcagccggatcttccatgtggcccggggtgggcggcggctgctgactacagacgacgtggcctt cagcgatgctgactcgggctttgctgacgcccagctggtgcttacccgcaaggacctcctctttggcagtatcgtggccgtagatgagcccacgcggc catctaccgcttcacccaggaggacctcaggaagaggcgagtactgttcgtgcactcaggggctgaccgtggctggatccagctgcaggtgtccgacg ggcaacaccaggccactgcgctgctggaggtgcaggcctcggaaccctacctccgtgtggccaacggctccagccttgtggtccctcaagggggcc agggcaccatcgacacggccgtgctccacctggacaccaacctcgacatccgcagtggggatgaggtccactaccacgtcacagctggccctcgctg gggacagctagtccgggctggtcagccagccacagccttctcccagcaggacctgctggatggggccgttctctatagccacaatggcagcctcagcc cccgcgacaccatggccttctccgtggaagcagggccagtgcacacggatgccaccctacaagtgaccattgcctagagggcccactggccccact gaagctggtccggcacaagaagatctacgtcttccagggagaggcagctgagatcagaagggaccagctggaggcagcccaggaggcagtgccac ctgcagacatcgtattctcagtgaagagcccaccgagtgccggctacctggtgatggtgtcgcgtggcgccttggcagatgagccacccagcctggac cctgtgcagagcttctcccaggaggcagtggacacaggcagggtcctgtacctgcactcccgccctgaggcctggagcgatgccttctcgctggatgt ggcctcaggcctgggtgctcccctcgagggcgtccttgtggagctggaggtgctgcccgctgccatcccactagaggcgcaaaacttcagcgtccctg agggtggcagcctcaccctggcccctccactgctccgtgtctccgggccctacttccccactctcctgggcctcagcctgcaggtgctggagccacccc agcatggagccctgcagaaggaggacggacctcaagccaggaccctcagcgccttctcctggagaatggtggaagagcagctgatccgctacgtgc atgacgggagcgagacactgacagacagttttgtcctgatggctaatgcctccgagatggatcgccagagccatcctgtggccttcactgtcactgtcct gcctgtcaatgaccaaccccccatcctcactacaaacacaggcctgcagatgtgggagggggccactgcgcccatccctgcggaggctctgaggagc acggacggcgactctgggtctgaggatctggtctacaccatcgagcagcccagcaacgggcgggtagtgctgcggggggcgccgggcactgaggt gcgcagcttcacgcaggcccagctggacggcgggctcgtgctgttctcacacagaggaaccctggatggaggcttccgcttccgcctctctgacggc gagcacacttcccccggacacttcttccgagtgacggcccagaagcaagtgctcctctcgctgaagggcagccagacactgactgtctgcccagggtc cgtccagccactcagcagtcagaccctcagggccagctccagcgcaggcactgacccccagctcctgctctaccgtgtggtgcggggccccagcta ggccggctgttccacgcccagcaggacagcacaggggaggccctggtgaacttcactcaggcagaggtctacgctgggaatattctgtatgagcatg agatgccccccgagccttttgggaggcccatgataccctagagctccagctgtcctcgccgcctgcccgggacgtggccgccacccttgctgtggct gtgtcttttgaggctgcctgtccccagcgccccagccacctctggaagaacaaaggtctctgggtccccgagggccagcgggccaggatcaccgtgg ctgctctggatgcctccaatctcttggccagcgttccatcaccccagcgctcagagcatgatgtgctcttccaggtcacacagttccccagccggggcca gctgttggtgtccgaggagcccctccatgctgggcagccccacttcctgcagtcccagctggctgcagggcagctagtgtatgcccacggcggtgggg gcacccagcaggatggcttccactttcgtgcccacctccaggggccagcaggggcctccgtggctggaccccaaacctcagaggcctttgccatcac ggtgagggatgtaaatgagcggccccctcagccacaggcctctgtcccactccggctcacccgaggctctcgtgcccccatctcccgggcccagctg agtgtggtggacccagactcagctcctggggagattgagtacgaggtccagcgggcaccccacaacggcttcctcagcctggtgggtggtggcctgg ggcccgtgacccgcttcacgcaagccgatgtggattcagggcggctggccttcgtggccaacgggagcagcgtggcaggcatcttccagctgagcat gtctgatggggccagcccacccctgcccatgtccctggctgtggacatcctaccatccgccatcgaggtgcagctgcgggcacccctggaggtgcccc aagctttggggcgctcctcactgagccagcagcagctccgggtggtttcagatcgggaggagccagaggcagcataccgcctcatccagggacccca gtatgggcatctcctggtgggcgggcggcccacctcggccttcagccaattccagatagaccagggcgaggtggtctttgccttcaccaacttctcctcc tctcatgaccacttcagagtcctggcactggctaggggtgtcaatgcatcagccgtagtgaacgtcactgtgagggctctgctgcatgtgtgggcaggtg ggccatggccccagggtgccaccctgcgcctggaccccaccgtcctagatgctggcgagctggccaaccgcacaggcagtgtgccgcgcttccgcc tcctggagggaccccggcatggccgcgtggtccgcgtgccccgagccaggacggagcccgggggcagccagctggtggagcagttcactcagca ggaccttgaggacgggaggctggggctggaggtgggcaggccagaggggagggcccccggccccgcaggtgacagtctcactctggagctgtgg gcacagggcgtcccgcctgctgtggcctccctggactttgccactgagccttacaatgctgcccggccctacagcgtggccctgctcagtgtccccgag gccgccggacggaagcagggaagccagagagcagcaccccacaggcgagccaggcccatggcatccagcctgagccgctgtggccaag ggaggcttcctgagcttccttgaggccaacatgttcagcgtcatcatccccatgtgcctggtacttctgctcctggcgctcatcctgcccctgctcttctacct ccgaaaacgcaacaagacgggcaagcatgacgtccaggtcctgactgccaagccccgcaacggcctggctggtgacaccgagacctttcgcaaggt ggagccaggccaggccatcccgctcacagctgtgcctggccaggggccccctccaggaggccagcctgacccagagctgctgcagttctgccgga cacccaaccctgccttaagaatggccagtactgggtgtgaggcctggcctgggcccagatgctgatcgggccagggacaggc (SEQ ID No: 16). In another embodiment, the recombinant nucleotide has the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 16. In another embodiment, an HMW-MAA-encoding nucleotide of methods and compositions of the present invention comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID No: 16. In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA-encoding nucleotide is a homologue of SEQ ID No: 16. In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA-encoding nucleotide is a variant of SEQ ID No: 16. In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA-encoding nucleotide is a fragment of SEQ ID No: 16. In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA-encoding nucleotide is an isoform of SEQ ID No: 16. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA protein of methods and compositions of the present invention has an AA sequence set forth in a GenBank entry having an Accession Numbers selected from NM_—001897 and X96753. In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA protein is encoded by a nucleotide sequence set forth in one of the above GenBank entries. In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA protein comprises a sequence set forth in one of the above GenBank entries. In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA protein is a homologue of a sequence set forth in one of the above GenBank entries. In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA protein is a variant of a sequence set forth in one of the above GenBank entries. In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA protein is a fragment of a sequence set forth in one of the above GenBank entries. In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA protein is an isoform of a sequence set forth in one of the above GenBank entries. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

The HMW-MAA fragment utilized in the present invention comprises, in another embodiment, AA 360-554. In another embodiment, the fragment consists essentially of AA 360-554. In another embodiment, the fragment consists of AA 360-554. In another embodiment, the fragment comprises AA 701-1130. In another embodiment, the fragment consists essentially of AA 701-1130. In another embodiment, the fragment consists of AA 701-1130. In another embodiment, the fragment comprises AA 2160-2258. In another embodiment, the fragment consists essentially of 2160-2258. In another embodiment, the fragment consists of 2160-2258. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In some embodiments, a polypeptide of the present invention will comprise a fragment of a HMW-MAA protein, in any form or embodiment as described herein. In some embodiments, any of the polypeptides of the present invention will consist of a fragment of a HMW-MAA protein, in any form or embodiment as described herein. In some embodiments, of the compositions of this invention will consist essentially of a fragment of a HMW-MAA protein, in any form or embodiment as described herein. In some embodiments, the term “comprise” refers to the inclusion of the indicated active agent, such as the fragment of a HMW-MAA protein, or the fragment of a HMW-MAA protein and a non-HMW-MAA polypeptide, as well as inclusion of other active agents, and pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients, emollients, stabilizers, etc., as are known in the pharmaceutical industry. In some embodiments, the term “consisting essentially of” refers to a composition, whose only active ingredient is the indicated active ingredient, however, other compounds may be included which are for stabilizing, preserving, etc. the formulation, but are not involved directly in the therapeutic effect of the indicated active ingredient. In some embodiments, the term “consisting essentially of” may refer to components which facilitate the release of the active ingredient. In some embodiments, the term “consisting” refers to a composition, which contains the active ingredient and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.

In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA fragment is approximately 98 AA in length. In another embodiment, the length is approximately 194 AA. In another embodiment, the length is approximately 430 AA.

In another embodiment, the length is approximately 98-194 AA. In another embodiment, the length is approximately 194-430 AA. In another embodiment, the length is approximately 98-430 AA.

In another embodiment, the length of the HMW-MAA fragment of the present invention is at least 8 amino acids (AA). In another embodiment, the length is more than 8 AA. In another embodiment, the length is at least 9 AA. In another embodiment, the length is more than 9 AA. In another embodiment, the length is at least 10 AA. In another embodiment, the length is more than 10 AA. In another embodiment, the length is at least 11 AA. In another embodiment, the length is more than 11 AA. In another embodiment, the length is at least 12 AA. In another embodiment, the length is more than 12 AA. In another embodiment, the length is at least about 14 AA. In another embodiment, the length is more than 14 AA. In another embodiment, the length is at least about 16 AA. In another embodiment, the length is more than 16 AA. In another embodiment, the length is at least about 18 AA. In another embodiment, the length is more than 18 AA. In another embodiment, the length is at least about 20 AA. In another embodiment, the length is more than 20 AA. In another embodiment, the length is at least about 25 AA. In another embodiment, the length is more than 25 AA. In another embodiment, the length is at least about 30 AA. In another embodiment, the length is more than 30 AA. In another embodiment, the length is at least about 40 AA. In another embodiment, the length is more than 40 AA. In another embodiment, the length is at least about 50 AA. In another embodiment, the length is more than 50 AA. In another embodiment, the length is at least about 70 AA. In another embodiment, the length is more than 70 AA. In another embodiment, the length is at least about 100 AA. In another embodiment, the length is more than 100 AA. In another embodiment, the length is at least about 150 AA. In another embodiment, the length is more than 150 AA. In another embodiment, the length is at least about 200 AA. In another embodiment, the length is more than 200 AA. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the length is about 8-50 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 8-70 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 8-100 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 8-150 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 8-200 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 8-250 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 8-300 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 8-400 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 8-500 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 9-50 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 9-70 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 9-100 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 9-150 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 9-200 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 9-250 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 9-300 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 10-50 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 10-70 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 10-100 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 10-150 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 10-200 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 10-250 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 10-300 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 10-400 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 10-500 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 11-50 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 11-70 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 11-100 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 11-150 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 11-200 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 11-250 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 11-300 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 11-400 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 11-500 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 12-50 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 12-70 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 12-100 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 12-150 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 12-200 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 12-250 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 12-300 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 12-400 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 12-500 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 15-50 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 15-70 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 15-100 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 15-150 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 15-200 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 15-250 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 15-300 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 15-400 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 15-500 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 8-400 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 8-500 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 20-50 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 20-70 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 20-100 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 20-150 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 20-200 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 20-250 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 20-300 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 20-400 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 20-500 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 30-50 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 30-70 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 30-100 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 30-150 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 30-200 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 30-250 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 30-300 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 30-400 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 30-500 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 40-50 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 40-70 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 40-100 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 40-150 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 40-200 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 40-250 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 40-300 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 40-400 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 40-500 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 50-70 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 50-100 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 50-150 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 50-200 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 50-250 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 50-300 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 50-400 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 50-500 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 70-100 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 70-150 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 70-200 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 70-250 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 70-300 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 70-400 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 70-500 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 100-150 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 100-200 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 100-250 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 100-300 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 100-400 AA. In another embodiment, the length is about 100-500 AA. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

Each HMW-MAA protein and each fragment thereof represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, a recombinant polypeptide of the methods and compositions of the present invention comprises a signal sequence. In another embodiment, the signal sequence is from the organism used to construct the vaccine vector. In another embodiment, the signal sequence is a LLO signal sequence. In another embodiment, the signal sequence is an ActA signal sequence. In another embodiment, the signal sequence is a Listerial signal sequence. In another embodiment, the signal sequence is any other signal sequence known in the art. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

The terms “peptide” and “recombinant peptide” refer, in another embodiment, to a peptide or polypeptide of any length. In another embodiment, a peptide or recombinant peptide of the present invention has one of the lengths enumerated above for an HMW-MAA fragment. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, the term “peptide” refers to native peptides (either degradation products, synthetically synthesized peptides or recombinant peptides) and/or peptidomimetics (typically, synthetically synthesized peptides), such as peptoids and semipeptoids which are peptide analogs, which may have, for example, modifications rendering the peptides more stable while in a body or more capable of penetrating into cells. Such modifications include, but are not limited to N terminus modification, C terminus modification, peptide bond modification, including, but not limited to, CH₂—NH, CH₂—S, CH₂—S═O, O═C—NH, CH₂—O, CH₂—CH₂, S═C—NH, CH═CH or CF═CH, backbone modifications, and residue modification. Methods for preparing peptidomimetic compounds are well known in the art and are specified, for example, in Quantitative Drug Design, C. A. Ramsden Gd., Chapter 17.2, F. Choplin Pergamon Press (1992), which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. Further details in this respect are provided hereinunder.

Peptide bonds (—CO—NH—) within the peptide may be substituted, for example, by N-methylated bonds (—N(CH₃)—CO—), ester bonds (—C(R)H—C—O—O—C(R)—N—), ketomethylen bonds (—CO—CH₂—), *-aza bonds (—NH—N(R)—CO—), wherein R is any alkyl, e.g., methyl, carba bonds (—CH₂—NH—), hydroxyethylene bonds (—CH(OH)—CH₂—), thioamide bonds (—CS—NH—), olefinic double bonds (—CH═CH—), retro amide bonds (—NH—CO—), peptide derivatives (—N(R)—CH₂—CO—), wherein R is the “normal” side chain, naturally presented on the carbon atom.

These modifications can occur at any of the bonds along the peptide chain and even at several (2-3) at the same time. Natural aromatic amino acids, Trp, Tyr and Phe, may be substituted for synthetic non-natural acid such as TIC, naphthylelanine (Nol), ring-methylated derivatives of Phe, halogenated derivatives of Phe or o-methyl-Tyr.

In addition to the above, the peptides of the present invention may also include one or more modified amino acids or one or more non-amino acid monomers (e.g. fatty acids, complex carbohydrates etc).

In one embodiment, the term “amino acid” or “amino acids” is understood to include the 20 naturally occurring amino acids; those amino acids often modified post-translationally in vivo, including, for example, hydroxyproline, phosphoserine and phosphothreonine; and other unusual amino acids including, but not limited to, 2-aminoadipic acid, hydroxylysine, isodesmosine, nor-valine, nor-leucine and ornithine. Furthermore, the term “amino acid” may include both D- and L-amino acids.

Peptides or proteins of this invention may be prepared by various techniques known in the art, including phage display libraries (Hoogenboom and Winter, J. Mol. Biol. 227:381 (1991); Marks et al., J. Mol. Biol. 222:581 (1991)).

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a vector comprising an oligonucleotide encoding a polypeptide of the present invention. In one embodiment, the term “oligonucleotide” is interchangeable with the term “nucleic acid”, and may refer to a molecule, which may include, but is not limited to, prokaryotic sequences, eukaryotic mRNA, cDNA from eukaryotic mRNA, genomic DNA sequences from eukaryotic (e.g., mammalian) DNA, and even synthetic DNA sequences. The term also refers to sequences that include any of the known base analogs of DNA and RNA.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a vaccine comprising a recombinant Listeria strain of the present invention. In one embodiment, the vaccine additionally comprises an adjuvant. In one embodiment, the vaccine additionally comprises a cytokine, chemokine, or combination thereof. In one embodiment, a vaccine is a composition which elicits an immune response to an antigen or polypeptide in the composition as a result of exposure to the composition. In another embodiment, the vaccine or composition additionally comprises APCs, which in one embodiment are autologous, while in another embodiment, they are allogeneic to the subject.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a vaccine comprising a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention and an adjuvant. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a vaccine comprising a recombinant oligonucleotide of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides an immunogenic composition comprising a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention. In another embodiment, the immunogenic composition of methods and compositions of the present invention comprises a recombinant vaccine vector encoding a recombinant peptide of the present invention. In another embodiment, the immunogenic composition comprises a plasmid encoding a recombinant peptide of the present invention. In another embodiment, the immunogenic composition comprises an adjuvant. In one embodiment, a vector of the present invention may be administered as part of a vaccine composition. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

The immunogenic composition utilized in methods and compositions of the present invention comprises, in another embodiment, a recombinant vaccine vector. In another embodiment, the recombinant vaccine vector comprises a recombinant peptide of the present invention. In another embodiment, the recombinant vaccine vector comprises an isolated nucleic acid of the present invention. In another embodiment, the recombinant vaccine vector comprises an isolated nucleic acid encoding a recombinant peptide of the present invention. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a recombinant vaccine vector encoding a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a recombinant vaccine vector comprising a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention. In another embodiment, the expression vector is a plasmid. Methods for constructing and utilizing recombinant vectors are well known in the art and are described, for example, in Sambrook et al. (2001, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York), and in Brent et al. (2003, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, New York). Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the vector is an intracellular pathogen. In another embodiment, the vector is derived from a cytosolic pathogen. In another embodiment, the vector is derived from an intracellular pathogen.

In another embodiment, an intracellular pathogen induces a predominantly cell-mediated immune response. In another embodiment, the vector is a Salmonella strain. In another embodiment, the vector is a BCG strain. In another embodiment, the vector is a bacterial vector. In another embodiment, dendritic cells transduced with a vector of the present invention may be administered to the subject to upregulate the subject's immune response, which in one embodiment is accomplished by upregulating CTL activity.

In another embodiment, the recombinant vaccine vector induces a predominantly Th1-type immune response.

An immunogenic composition of methods and compositions of the present invention comprises, in another embodiment, an adjuvant that favors a predominantly Th1-type immune response. In another embodiment, the adjuvant favors a predominantly Th1-mediated immune response. In another embodiment, the adjuvant favors a Th1-type immune response. In another embodiment, the adjuvant favors a Th1-mediated immune response. In another embodiment, the adjuvant favors a cell-mediated immune response over an antibody-mediated response. In another embodiment, the adjuvant is any other type of adjuvant known in the art. In another embodiment, the immunogenic composition induces the formation of a T cell immune response against the target protein. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the adjuvant is MPL. In another embodiment, the adjuvant is QS21. In another embodiment, the adjuvant is a TLR agonist. In another embodiment, the adjuvant is a TLR4 agonist. In another embodiment, the adjuvant is a TLR9 agonist. In another embodiment, the adjuvant is RESIQUIMOD®. In another embodiment, the adjuvant is imiquimod. In another embodiment, the adjuvant is a CpG oligonucleotide. In another embodiment, the adjuvant is a cytokine or a nucleic acid encoding same. In another embodiment, the adjuvant is a chemokine or a nucleic acid encoding same. In another embodiment, the adjuvant is IL-12 or a nucleic acid encoding same. In another embodiment, the adjuvant is IL-6 or a nucleic acid encoding same. In another embodiment, the adjuvant is a lipopolysaccharide. In another embodiment, the adjuvant is as described in Fundamental Immunology, 5th ed. (August 2003): William E. Paul (Editor); Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Publishers; Chapter 43: Vaccines, GJV Nossal, which is hereby incorporated by reference. In another embodiment, the adjuvant is any other adjuvant known in the art. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In one embodiment, a “predominantly Th1-type immune response” refers to an immune response in which IFN-gamma is secreted. In another embodiment, it refers to an immune response in which tumor necrosis factors is secreted. In another embodiment, it refers to an immune response in which IL-2 is secreted. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the vector is selected from Salmonella sp., Shigella sp., BCG, L. monocytogenes (which embodiment is exemplified in Example 2), E. coli, and S. gordonii. In another embodiment, the fusion proteins are delivered by recombinant bacterial vectors modified to escape phagolysosomal fusion and live in the cytoplasm of the cell. In another embodiment, the vector is a viral vector. In other embodiments, the vector is selected from Vaccinia (which embodiment is exemplified in Example 8), Avipox, Adenovirus, AAV, Vaccinia virus NYVAC, Modified vaccinia strain Ankara (MVA), Semliki Forest virus, Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, herpes viruses, and retroviruses. In another embodiment, the vector is a naked DNA vector. In another embodiment, the vector is any other vector known in the art. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides an isolated nucleic acid encoding a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention. In one embodiment, the isolated nucleic acid comprises a sequence sharing at least 85% homology with a nucleic acid encoding a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention. In another embodiment, the isolated nucleic acid comprises a sequence sharing at least 90% homology with a nucleic acid encoding a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention. In another embodiment, the isolated nucleic acid comprises a sequence sharing at least 95% homology with a nucleic acid encoding a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention. In another embodiment, the isolated nucleic acid comprises a sequence sharing at least 97% homology with a nucleic acid encoding a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention. In another embodiment, the isolated nucleic acid comprises a sequence sharing at least 99% homology with a nucleic acid encoding a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a vaccine comprising a recombinant nucleotide molecule of the present invention and an adjuvant. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a recombinant vaccine vector comprising a recombinant nucleotide molecule of the present invention. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a recombinant vaccine vector encoding a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a recombinant vaccine vector comprising a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention. In another embodiment, the expression vector is a plasmid. Methods for constructing and utilizing recombinant vectors are well known in the art and are described, for example, in Sambrook et al. (2001, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York), and in Brent et al. (2003, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, New York). Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

Methods for preparing peptide vaccines are well known in the art and are described, for example, in EP1408048, United States Patent Application Number 20070154953, and OGASAWARA et al (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA Vol. 89, pp. 8995-8999, October 1992). In one embodiment, peptide evolution techniques are used to create an antigen with higher immunogenicity. Techniques for peptide evolution are well known in the art and are described, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 6,773,900.

In one embodiment, a vaccine is a composition which elicits an immune response to an antigen or polypeptide in the composition as a result of exposure to the composition.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a recombinant Listeria strain comprising a recombinant nucleotide molecule of the present invention. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a recombinant Listeria strain comprising a recombinant polynucleotide of the present invention.

The recombinant Listeria strain of methods and compositions of the present invention is, in another embodiment, a recombinant Listeria monocytogenes strain. In another embodiment, the Listeria strain is a recombinant Listeria seeligeri strain. In another embodiment, the Listeria strain is a recombinant Listeria grayi strain. In another embodiment, the Listeria strain is a recombinant Listeria ivanovii strain. In another embodiment, the Listeria strain is a recombinant Listeria murrayi strain. In another embodiment, the Listeria strain is a recombinant Listeria welshimeri strain. In another embodiment, the Listeria strain is a recombinant strain of any other Listeria species known in the art. In one embodiment, the Listeria strain is a Listeria strain comprising LLO, while in another embodiment, the Listeria strain is a Listeria strain comprising ActA, while in another embodiment, the Listeria strain is a Listeria strain comprising PEST-like sequences.

In another embodiment, the Listeria strain is attenuated by deletion of a gene. In another embodiment, the Listeria strain is attenuated by deletion of more than 1 gene. In another embodiment, the Listeria strain is attenuated by deletion or inactivation of a gene. In another embodiment, the Listeria strain is attenuated by deletion or inactivation of more than 1 gene.

In another embodiment, the gene that is mutated is hly. In another embodiment, the gene that is mutated is actA. In another embodiment, the gene that is mutated is plc A. In another embodiment, the gene that is mutated is plcB. In another embodiment, the gene that is mutated is mpl. In another embodiment, the gene that is mutated is inl A. In another embodiment, the gene that is mutated is inlB. In another embodiment, the gene that is mutated is bsh.

In another embodiment, the Listeria strain is an auxotrophic mutant. In another embodiment, the Listeria strain is deficient in a gene encoding a vitamin synthesis gene. In another embodiment, the Listeria strain is deficient in a gene encoding pantothenic acid synthase.

In another embodiment, the Listeria strain is deficient in an AA metabolism enzyme. In another embodiment, the Listeria strain is deficient in a D-glutamic acid synthase gene. In another embodiment, the Listeria strain is deficient in the dat gene. In another embodiment, the Listeria strain is deficient in the dal gene. In another embodiment, the Listeria strain is deficient in the dga gene. In another embodiment, the Listeria strain is deficient in a gene involved in the synthesis of diaminopimelic acid. CysK. In another embodiment, the gene is vitamin-B12 independent methionine synthase. In another embodiment, the gene is trpA. In another embodiment, the gene is trpB. In another embodiment, the gene is trpE. In another embodiment, the gene is asnB. In another embodiment, the gene is gltD. In another embodiment, the gene is gltB. In another embodiment, the gene is leuA. In another embodiment, the gene is argG. In another embodiment, the gene is thrC. In another embodiment, the Listeria strain is deficient in one or more of the genes described hereinabove.

In another embodiment, the Listeria strain is deficient in a synthase gene. In another embodiment, the gene is an AA synthesis gene. In another embodiment, the gene is folP. In another embodiment, the gene is dihydrouridine synthase family protein. In another embodiment, the gene is ispD. In another embodiment, the gene is ispF. In another embodiment, the gene is phosphoenolpyruvate synthase. In another embodiment, the gene is hisF. In another embodiment, the gene is hisH. In another embodiment, the gene is fliI. In another embodiment, the gene is ribosomal large subunit pseudouridine synthase. In another embodiment, the gene is ispD. In another embodiment, the gene is bifunctional GMP synthase/glutamine amidotransferase protein. In another embodiment, the gene is cobS. In another embodiment, the gene is cobB. In another embodiment, the gene is cbiD. In another embodiment, the gene is uroporphyrin-III C-methyltransferase/uroporphyrinogen-III synthase. In another embodiment, the gene is cobQ. In another embodiment, the gene is uppS. In another embodiment, the gene is truB. In another embodiment, the gene is dxs. In another embodiment, the gene is mvaS. In another embodiment, the gene is dapA. In another embodiment, the gene is ispG. In another embodiment, the gene is folC. In another embodiment, the gene is citrate synthase. In another embodiment, the gene is argJ. In another embodiment, the gene is 3-deoxy-7-phosphoheptulonate synthase. In another embodiment, the gene is indole-3-glycerol-phosphate synthase. In another embodiment, the gene is anthranilate synthase/glutamine amidotransferase component. In another embodiment, the gene is menB. In another embodiment, the gene is menaquinone-specific isochorismate synthase. In another embodiment, the gene is phosphoribosylformylglycinamidine synthase I or II. In another embodiment, the gene is phosphoribosylaminoimidazole-succinocarboxamide synthase. In another embodiment, the gene is carB. In another embodiment, the gene is carA. In another embodiment, the gene is thyA. In another embodiment, the gene is mgsA. In another embodiment, the gene is aroB. In another embodiment, the gene is hepB. In another embodiment, the gene is rluB. In another embodiment, the gene is ilvB. In another embodiment, the gene is ilvN. In another embodiment, the gene is alsS. In another embodiment, the gene is fabF. In another embodiment, the gene is fabH. In another embodiment, the gene is pseudouridine synthase. In another embodiment, the gene is pyrG. In another embodiment, the gene is truA. In another embodiment, the gene is pabB. In another embodiment, the gene is an atp synthase gene (e.g. atpC, atpD-2, aptG, atpA-2, etc).

In another embodiment, the gene is phoP. In another embodiment, the gene is aroA. In another embodiment, the gene is aroC. In another embodiment, the gene is aroD. In another embodiment, the gene is plcB.

In another embodiment, the Listeria strain is deficient in a peptide transporter. In another embodiment, the gene is ABC transporter/ATP-binding/permease protein. In another embodiment, the gene is oligopeptide ABC transporter/oligopeptide-binding protein. In another embodiment, the gene is oligopeptide ABC transporter/permease protein. In another embodiment, the gene is zinc ABC transporter/zinc-binding protein. In another embodiment, the gene is sugar ABC transporter. In another embodiment, the gene is phosphate transporter. In another embodiment, the gene is ZIP zinc transporter. In another embodiment, the gene is drug resistance transporter of the EmrB/QacA family. In another embodiment, the gene is sulfate transporter. In another embodiment, the gene is proton-dependent oligopeptide transporter. In another embodiment, the gene is magnesium transporter. In another embodiment, the gene is formate/nitrite transporter. In another embodiment, the gene is spermidine/putrescine ABC transporter. In another embodiment, the gene is Na/Pi-cotransporter. In another embodiment, the gene is sugar phosphate transporter. In another embodiment, the gene is glutamine ABC transporter. In another embodiment, the gene is major facilitator family transporter. In another embodiment, the gene is glycine betaine/L-proline ABC transporter. In another embodiment, the gene is molybdenum ABC transporter. In another embodiment, the gene is techoic acid ABC transporter. In another embodiment, the gene is cobalt ABC transporter. In another embodiment, the gene is ammonium transporter. In another embodiment, the gene is amino acid ABC transporter. In another embodiment, the gene is cell division ABC transporter. In another embodiment, the gene is manganese ABC transporter. In another embodiment, the gene is iron compound ABC transporter. In another embodiment, the gene is maltose/maltodextrin ABC transporter. In another embodiment, the gene is drug resistance transporter of the Bcr/CflA family.

In another embodiment, the gene is a subunit of one of the above proteins.

In another embodiment, a recombinant Listeria strain of the present invention has been passaged through an animal host. In another embodiment, the passaging maximizes efficacy of the strain as a vaccine vector. In another embodiment, the passaging stabilizes the immunogenicity of the Listeria strain. In another embodiment, the passaging stabilizes the virulence of the Listeria strain. In another embodiment, the passaging increases the immunogenicity of the Listeria strain. In another embodiment, the passaging increases the virulence of the Listeria strain. In another embodiment, the passaging removes unstable sub-strains of the Listeria strain. In another embodiment, the passaging reduces the prevalence of unstable sub-strains of the Listeria strain. In another embodiment, the passaging attenuates the strain, or in another embodiment, makes the strain less virulent. Methods for passaging a recombinant Listeria strain through an animal host are known in the art, and are described, for example, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/541,614. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

Each Listeria strain and type thereof represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the recombinant Listeria of methods and compositions of the present invention is stably transformed with a construct encoding an antigen or an LLO-antigen fusion. In one embodiment, the construct contains a polylinker to facilitate further subcloning. Several techniques for producing recombinant Listeria are known; each technique represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the construct or heterologous gene is integrated into the Listerial chromosome using homologous recombination. Techniques for homologous recombination are well known in the art, and are described, for example, in Frankel, F R, Hegde, S, Lieberman, J, and Y Paterson. Induction of a cell-mediated immune response to HIV gag using Listeria monocytogenes as a live vaccine vector. J. Immunol. 155: 4766-4774, 1995; Mata, M, Yao, Z, Zubair, A, Syres, K and Y Paterson, Evaluation of a recombinant Listeria monocytogenes expressing an HIV protein that protects mice against viral challenge. Vaccine 19:1435-45, 2001; Boyer, J D, Robinson, T M, Maciag, P C, Peng, X, Johnson, R S, Pavlakis, G, Lewis, M G, Shen, A, Siliciano, R, Brown, C R, Weiner, D, and Y Paterson. DNA prime Listeria boost induces a cellular immune response to SIV antigens in the Rhesus Macaque model that is capable of limited suppression of SIV239 viral replication. Virology. 333: 88-101, 2005. In another embodiment, homologous recombination is performed as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,855,320. In another embodiment, a temperature sensitive plasmid is used to select the recombinants. Each technique represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the construct or heterologous gene is integrated into the Listerial chromosome using transposon insertion. Techniques for transposon insertion are well known in the art, and are described, inter alia, by Sun et al. (Infection and Immunity 1990, 58: 3770-3778) in the construction of DP-L967. Transposon mutagenesis has the advantage, in another embodiment, that a stable genomic insertion mutant can be formed. In another embodiment, the position in the genome where the foreign gene has been inserted by transposon mutagenesis is unknown.

In another embodiment, the construct or heterologous gene is integrated into the Listerial chromosome using phage integration sites (Lauer P, Chow M Y et al, Construction, characterization, and use of two LM site-specific phage integration vectors. J Bacteriol 2002; 184(15): 4177-86). In another embodiment, an integrase gene and attachment site of a bacteriophage (e.g. U153 or PSA listeriophage) is used to insert the heterologous gene into the corresponding attachment site, which can be any appropriate site in the genome (e.g. comK or the 3′ end of the arg tRNA gene). In another embodiment, endogenous prophages are cured from the attachment site utilized prior to integration of the construct or heterologous gene. In another embodiment, this method results in single-copy integrants. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the construct is carried by the Listeria strain on a plasmid. LM vectors that express antigen fusion proteins have been constructed via this technique. Lm-GG/E7 was made by complementing a prfA-deletion mutant with a plasmid containing a copy of the prfA gene and a copy of the E7 gene fused to a form of the LLO (hly) gene truncated to eliminate the hemolytic activity of the enzyme, as described herein. Functional LLO was maintained by the organism via the endogenous chromosomal copy of hly. In another embodiment, the plasmid contains an antibiotic resistance gene. In another embodiment, the plasmid contains a gene encoding a virulence factor that is lacking in the genome of the transformed Listeria strain. In another embodiment, the virulence factor is prfA. In another embodiment, the virulence factor is LLO. In another embodiment, the virulence factor is ActA. In another embodiment, the virulence factor is any of the genes enumerated above as targets for attenuation. In another embodiment, the virulence factor is any other virulence factor known in the art. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, a recombinant peptide of the present invention is fused to a Listerial protein, such as PI-PLC, or a construct encoding same. In another embodiment, a signal sequence of a secreted Listerial protein such as hemolysin, ActA, or phospholipases is fused to the antigen-encoding gene. In another embodiment, a signal sequence of the recombinant vaccine vector is used. In another embodiment, a signal sequence functional in the recombinant vaccine vector is used. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the construct is contained in the Listeria strain in an episomal fashion. In another embodiment, the foreign antigen is expressed from a vector harbored by the recombinant Listeria strain.

Each method of expression in Listeria represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of inducing an anti-HMW-MAA immune response in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a recombinant Listeria strain of the present invention, thereby inducing an anti-HMW-MAA immune response in a subject.

In another embodiment, a subject is administered his/her own allogeneic cells, which in one embodiment, elicit an immune response to an antigen. In another embodiment, the compositions and methods of the present invention result in the expression of stimulatory cytokines, which in one embodiment, are Th1 cytokines, which in one embodiment, is IFN-gamma. In one embodiment, the expression of stimulatory cytokines contributes to the anti-tumor effect of the compositions and methods. In another embodiment, the compositions and methods of the present invention result in the expression of gamma delta T cells.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides compositions and methods for inducing non-specific anti-tumor responses. In one embodiment, immunization with a melanoma antigen, such as HMW-MAA peptide, protects against a type of melanoma that does not express the antigen (Example 4).

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of inducing an immune response against an HMW-MAA-expressing tumor in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a recombinant Listeria strain of the present invention, thereby inducing an immune response against an HMW-MAA-expressing tumor. As provided herein, vaccines of the present invention induce antigen-specific immune response, as shown by multiple lines of evidence—e.g. inhibition of tumor growth, tetramer staining, measurement of numbers of tumor-infiltrating CD8⁺ T cells, FACS, and chromium release assay.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of inducing an immune response against a pericyte in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a recombinant Listeria strain of the present invention, thereby inducing an immune response against a pericyte.

In another embodiment, HER-2/neu is an EGF receptor family member that is over-expressed in many human cancers (breast (40%), melanoma (30%), pancreatic (20%), ovarian (30%) & gastric cancer (19%)). In another embodiment, the present invention demonstrates that L. monocytogenes strains expressing HMW-MAA fragments induce an immune response directed to HER-2/neu antigen. In another embodiment, the present invention demonstrates that L. monocytogenes strains expressing HMW-MAA fragments induce a cytotoxic T cell response directed to HER-2/neu antigen. In another embodiment, the present invention demonstrates that L. monocytogenes strains expressing HMW-MAA fragments induce an immune response directed to HER-2/neu antigen thus controlling tumor growth. In another embodiment, the present invention demonstrates that L. monocytogenes strains expressing HMW-MAA fragments induce an immune response directed to HER-2/neu antigen thus breaking tolerance to an endogenous tumor antigen.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of delaying progression of a tumor in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention, thereby delaying progression of a tumor in a subject. In another embodiment, the subject mounts an immune response against a pericyte of the tumor. In another embodiment, the pericyte is in a vasculature of the solid tumor. In one embodiment, said tumor is a solid tumor. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

The data presented herein demonstrating the effectiveness of the Lm-HMW-MAA-C vaccine in delaying the onset of mammary tumors in FVB/N HER-2/neu transgenic mice (FIG. 13D).

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of impeding a vascularization of a solid tumor in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention, thereby impeding a vascularization of a solid tumor in a subject. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of impeding a vascularization of a breast tumor in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention, thereby impeding a vascularization of a breast tumor in a subject. In another embodiment, the subject mounts an immune response against a pericyte of the solid tumor. In another embodiment, the pericyte is in a vasculature of the solid tumor. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of delaying progression of a HER-2/neu-expressing tumor in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention, thereby delaying progression of a HER-2/neu-expressing tumor in a subject. In another embodiment, the subject mounts an immune response against the HER-2/neu expressing tumor. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention

In another embodiment, the methods of the present invention provide that a recombinant Listeria strain of the invention comprising a HMW-MAA fragment induces anti-HER-2/neu immune response. In another embodiment, the methods of the present invention provide that a recombinant Listeria strain of the invention comprising a HMW-MAA fragment C (encoded by SEQ ID NO: 23) induces an anti-HER-2/neu immune response.

In another embodiment, the methods of the present invention provide that a recombinant polypeptide comprising HMW-MAA fragment induces anti-HER-2/neu immune response. In another embodiment, the methods of the present invention provide that a recombinant polypeptide comprising a HMW-MAA fragment C (encoded by SEQ ID NO: 23) induces an anti-HER-2/neu immune response.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides that the immune response induced by a recombinant polypeptide comprising a HMW-MAA fragment or a recombinant Listeria strain comprising a recombinant polypeptide comprising a HMW-MAA fragment is effective at controlling tumor growth, wherein the tumor expresses HER-2/neu antigen. In another embodiment, the present invention provides that the immune response induced by a recombinant polypeptide comprising a HMW-MAA fragment or a recombinant Listeria strain comprising a recombinant polypeptide comprising a HMW-MAA fragment is effective at controlling breast tumor growth. In another embodiment, the present invention provides that the immune response induced by a recombinant polypeptide comprising a HMW-MAA fragment or a recombinant Listeria strain comprising a recombinant polypeptide comprising a HMW-MAA fragment is effective at controlling breast cancer. In another embodiment, the present invention provides that the immune response induced by a recombinant polypeptide comprising a HMW-MAA fragment or a recombinant Listeria strain comprising a recombinant polypeptide comprising a HMW-MAA fragment is effective at controlling a solid tumor growth wherein the solid tumor expresses HER-2/neu antigen.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method that comprises a dual action: (1) destroying the vasculature of a tumor; and (2) inducing an anti-HER-2/neu immune response. In another embodiment, the present invention has an additive effect in view of drugs that control either one of the actions. In another embodiment, the present invention has a synergistic effect compared to drugs that control either one of the actions. In another embodiment, the present invention provides compositions and methods that are extremely effective in controlling the growth of tumors expressing HER-2/neu antigen due to the dual action as described hereinabove. In another embodiment, the present invention provides compositions and methods for administering a recombinant Listeria vaccine strain expressing an LLO protein fused to a fragment of HMW-MAA to a mammal resulting in impairment of tumor growth, in another embodiment, regression of existing tumors (FIG. 13C), in another embodiment, abrogation of tolerance to existing tumors, and, in another embodiment, the death of tumor tissue, which in one embodiment is a HER-2/neu-expressing tumor. In another embodiment, the present invention provides compositions and methods for delaying the onset of mammary tumors in populations pre-disposed to developing mammary tumors (FIG. 13D), due to genetic or environmental factors.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of impeding the growth of a solid tumor expressing HER-2/neu antigen in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a recombinant Listeria strain of the present invention, thereby impeding a growth and/or delaying progression of a solid tumor expressing HER-2/neu antigen in a subject. In another embodiment, the subject mounts an immune response against a pericyte of the solid tumor. In another embodiment, the subject mounts an immune response against HER-2/neu antigen of the solid tumor. In another embodiment, the pericyte is in a vasculature of the solid tumor. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of treating a solid tumor expressing HER-2/neu in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a recombinant Listeria strain of the present invention, thereby treating a solid tumor in a subject. In another embodiment, the subject mounts an immune response against a pericyte of the solid tumor. In another embodiment, the pericyte is in a vasculature of the solid tumor. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of lysing one or more tumor cells expressing HER-2/neu in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a recombinant Listeria strain of the present invention, thereby lysing one or more tumor cells in a subject. In one embodiment, tumor lysis is due to cytotoxic T lymphocytes, tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, or a combination thereof, which in one embodiment are tumor-specific.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of inducing an anti-tumor immune response in a subject comprising the step of administering to a subject a composition of the invention. In another embodiment, the composition of the present invention induces the release of antigens associated with cancer. In another embodiment, the composition of the present invention induces the release of antigens associated with a tumor. In another embodiment, the composition of the present invention induces the release of antigens associated with a breast tumor. In another embodiment, killing the vasculature of the tumor caused the release of antigens associated with a tumor which in turn induced a tumor antigen-specific immune response. In another embodiment, killing the vasculature of the tumor caused the release of antigens associated with a tumor which in turn induced a multitude of tumor antigen-specific immune responses. In another embodiment, killing the vasculature of the tumor caused the release of HER-2/neu antigen which in turn induced a HER-2/neu antigen specific immune response.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides that compositions comprising a HMW-MAA fragment induce an immune response against other cancerous antigens. In another embodiment, the present invention provides that compositions comprising a HMW-MAA fragment induce an immune response against other cancerous antigens associated with tumors. In another embodiment, the present invention provides that compositions comprising a HMW-MAA fragment induce an immune response against other cancerous antigens associated with solid tumors. In another embodiment, the present invention provides that compositions comprising a HMW-MAA fragment induce an immune response against other breast cancer antigens. In another embodiment, the present invention provides that compositions comprising a HMW-MAA fragment induce an immune response against other cancerous antigens associated with a breast tumor.

In another embodiment, the immune response to HMW-MAA kills the vasculature of the tumor thus causing the death of the tumor and the release of antigens it contains which then are available to induce a tumor antigen-specific immune response. In another embodiment, the immune response to HMW-MAA enhances the elimination of tumors by killing the vasculature of the tumor, thus causing the death of the tumor and the release of antigens it contains which then are available to induce a tumor antigen-specific immune response. In another embodiment, the immune response to HMW-MAA induces a secondary immune response to antigens released from the tumor. In another embodiment, the immune response to HMW-MAA induces the death of the tumor and subsequently the release of tumor specific antigens which in turn induce a tumor antigen-specific immune. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method for “epitope spreading” of a tumor.

In one embodiment, methods of the present invention are used to treat, impede, suppress, inhibit, or prevent any of the above-described diseases, disorders, symptoms, or side effects associated with allergy or asthma. In one embodiment, “treating” refers to both therapeutic treatment and prophylactic or preventative measures, wherein the object is to prevent or lessen the targeted pathologic condition or disorder as described hereinabove. Thus, in one embodiment, treating may include directly affecting or curing, suppressing, inhibiting, preventing, reducing the severity of, delaying the onset of, reducing symptoms associated with the disease, disorder or condition, or a combination thereof. Thus, in one embodiment, “treating” refers inter alia to delaying progression, expediting remission, inducing remission, augmenting remission, speeding recovery, increasing efficacy of or decreasing resistance to alternative therapeutics, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, “preventing” or “impeding” refers, inter alia, to delaying the onset of symptoms, preventing relapse to a disease, decreasing the number or frequency of relapse episodes, increasing latency between symptomatic episodes, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, “suppressing” or “inhibiting”, refers inter alia to reducing the severity of symptoms, reducing the severity of an acute episode, reducing the number of symptoms, reducing the incidence of disease-related symptoms, reducing the latency of symptoms, ameliorating symptoms, reducing secondary symptoms, reducing secondary infections, prolonging patient survival, or a combination thereof.

In one embodiment, symptoms are primary, while in another embodiment, symptoms are secondary. In one embodiment, “primary” refers to a symptom that is a direct result of a particular disease or disorder, while in one embodiment, “secondary” refers to a symptom that is derived from or consequent to a primary cause. In one embodiment, the compounds for use in the present invention treat primary or secondary symptoms or secondary complications related to cancer, which in one embodiment, is breast cancer. In another embodiment, “symptoms” may be any manifestation of a disease or pathological condition.

As provided herein, Listeria strains expressing HMW-MAA inhibited growth of tumors that did not express HMW-MAA. These findings show that anti-HMW-MAA immune responses inhibit and reverse vascularization of, and thus inhibit growth of, solid tumors. Anti-HMW-MAA vaccines of the present invention were able to exert these effects in spite of the incomplete identity (80%) between HMW-MAA and its mouse homolog, namely mouse chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (“AN2”). According to this embodiment, anti-HMW-MAA vaccines of the present invention are efficacious for vaccination against any solid tumor expressing HER-2/neu antigen, regardless of its expression of HMW-MAA. In another embodiment, anti-HMW-MAA vaccines of the present invention spread the immune response from HMW-MAA to HER-2/neu antigen. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of impeding a vascularization of a solid tumor followed by an anti HER-2/neu immune response in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a recombinant Listeria strain of the present invention, thereby impeding a vascularization of a solid tumor followed by an anti HER-2/neu immune response in a subject. In another embodiment, the subject mounts an immune response against a pericyte of the solid tumor. In another embodiment, the subject mounts an immune response against HER-2/neu antigen. In another embodiment, the pericyte is in a vasculature of the solid tumor. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

The solid tumor that is the target of methods and compositions of the present invention is, in another embodiment, a melanoma. In another embodiment, the tumor is a sarcoma. In another embodiment, the tumor is a carcinoma. In another embodiment, the tumor is a mesothelioma (e.g. malignant mesothelioma). In another embodiment, the tumor is a glioma. In another embodiment, the tumor is a germ cell tumor. In another embodiment, the tumor is a choriocarcinoma.

In another embodiment, the tumor is pancreatic cancer. In another embodiment, the tumor is ovarian cancer. In another embodiment, the tumor is gastric cancer. In another embodiment, the tumor is a carcinomatous lesion of the pancreas. In another embodiment, the tumor is pulmonary adenocarcinoma. In another embodiment, the tumor is colorectal adenocarcinoma. In another embodiment, the tumor is pulmonary squamous adenocarcinoma. In another embodiment, the tumor is gastric adenocarcinoma. In another embodiment, the tumor is an ovarian surface epithelial neoplasm (e.g. a benign, proliferative or malignant variety thereof). In another embodiment, the tumor is an oral squamous cell carcinoma. In another embodiment, the tumor is non small-cell lung carcinoma. In another embodiment, the tumor is an endometrial carcinoma. In another embodiment, the tumor is a bladder cancer. In another embodiment, the tumor is a head and neck cancer. In another embodiment, the tumor is a prostate carcinoma.

In another embodiment, the tumoris anon-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In another embodiment, the tumor is a Wilms' tumor. In another embodiment, the tumor is a desmoplastic small round cell tumor. In another embodiment, the tumor is a colon cancer. In another embodiment, the tumor is a lung cancer. In another embodiment, the tumor is an ovarian cancer. In another embodiment, the tumor is a uterine cancer. In another embodiment, the tumor is a thyroid cancer. In another embodiment, the tumor is a hepatocellular carcinoma. In another embodiment, the tumor is a thyroid cancer. In another embodiment, the tumor is a liver cancer. In another embodiment, the tumor is a renal cancer. In another embodiment, the tumor is a kaposis. In another embodiment, the tumor is a sarcoma. In another embodiment, the tumor is another carcinoma or sarcoma. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the tumor is a breast tumor. In one embodiment, the compositions and methods of the present invention are used to treat adenocarcinoma, which in one embodiment, develops in glandular tissue. In one embodiment, the compositions and methods of the present invention are used to treat ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which in one embodiment, develops in the milk ducts and, in another embodiment, is an early form of breast cancer.

In another embodiment, the compositions and methods of the present invention are used to treat invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), which in one embodiment, is the most common type of breast cancer, develops from DCIS, spreads through the duct walls, and invades the breast tissue. In another embodiment, the compositions and methods of the present invention are used to treat invasive lobular carcinoma, which in one embodiment, originates in the milk glands and accounts for 10-15% of invasive breast cancers. Additional types of breast cancer that may be treated using compositions and methods of the present invention include: Inflammatory (where, in one embodiment, breast tissue is warm and appears red; tends to spread quickly), Medullary carcinoma (which, in one embodiment, originates in central breast tissue), Mucinous carcinoma (where, in one embodiment, is invasive; usually occurs in postmenopausal women), Paget's disease of the nipple (which, in one embodiment, originates in the milk ducts and spreads to the skin of the nipples or areola), Phyllodes tumor (which, in one embodiment, is characterized by a tumor with a leaf-like appearance that extends into the ducts; rarely metastasizes), and Tubular carcinoma (which, in one embodiment, is a small tumor that is often undetectable by palpation). Compositions and methods of the present invention may also be used to treat sarcomas (in one embodiment, cancer of the connective tissue) and lymphomas (in one embodiment, cancer of the lymph tissue) that develop in breast tissue.

In another embodiment, the compositions and methods of the present invention are used to treat breast-related conditions in men, which in one embodiment, is Gynecomastia, Lobular breast cancer (LBC), and Infiltrating (or invasive) ductal carcinoma (IDC), which in one embodiment, is the most common form of male breast cancer and accounts for 80 to 90 percent of all men breast cancer diagnoses. In one embodiment, IDC originates in the duct and breaks into, or invades, the surrounding fatty tissue. In one embodiment, IDC may be contained only within the breast, or, in another embodiment, it can metasticize (spread) to other parts of the body.

In one embodiment, this invention provides compositions and methods for preventing cancer in populations that are predisposed to the cancer or in populations that are at high risk for the cancer, which in one embodiment, may be a population of women with brca1 or brca2 mutations, which population in one embodiment is susceptible to breast cancer.

Each of the above types of cancer represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of inducing an immune response against an HMW-MAA-expressing tumor in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a recombinant Listeria strain of the present invention, thereby inducing an immune response against an HMW-MAA-expressing tumor. As provided herein, Listeria strains expressing HMW-MAA elicited anti-HMW-MAA immune responses and inhibited growth of HMW-MAA-expressing of tumors. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of inducing an immune response against an HMW-MAA and HER-2/neu expressing tumor in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a recombinant Listeria strain of the present invention, thereby inducing an immune response against an HMW-MAA and HER-2/neu expressing tumor. As provided herein, Listeria strains expressing HMW-MAA elicit anti-HMW-MAA and anti-HER-2/neu immune responses and inhibit growth of HMW-MAA-expressing of tumors.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of inducing an anti-HER-2/neu immune response in a subject, said method comprising administering to said subject a composition comprising a recombinant Listeria strain expressing HMW-MAA fragment, which in one embodiment is encoded by SEQ ID NO: 23 and a non-HMW-MAA peptide, which in one embodiment, enhances the immunogenicity of the HMW-MAA fragment and in another embodiment is LLO, ActA, PEST sequence or an effective portion thereof, thereby inducing an anti-HER-2/neu immune response in a subject. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of inducing an anti-HER-2/neu immune response in a subject, said method comprising administering to said subject a composition comprising a recombinant polypeptide or vector of the present invention.

The HMW-MAA and/or HER-2/neu expressing tumor that is the target of methods and compositions of the present invention is, in another embodiment, a basal cell carcinoma. In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA-expressing tumor is a tumor of neural crest origin. In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA-expressing tumor is an astrocytoma. In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA and/or HER-2/neu expressing tumor is a glioma. In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA and/or HER-2/neu expressing tumor is a neuroblastoma. In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA and/or HER-2/neu expressing tumor is a sarcoma. In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA and/or HER-2/neu expressing tumor is childhood leukemia. In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA and/or HER-2/neu expressing tumor is a lobular breast carcinoma lesion. In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA and/or HER-2/neu expressing tumor is a melanoma. In another embodiment, the HMW-MAA and/or HER-2/neu expressing tumor is any other HMW-MAA and/or HER-2/neu expressing tumor. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of inducing an immune response against a pericyte and/or HER-2/neu antigen in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a recombinant Listeria strain of the present invention, thereby inducing an immune response against a pericyte and/or HER-2/neu antigen. As provided herein, Listeria strains expressing HMW-MAA inhibited growth of solid tumors expressing HER-2/neu antigen, even those that did not express HMW-MAA. These findings demonstrate inhibition of vascularization via induction of immune responses against tumor-vascular associated pericytes.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of impeding a growth and/or delaying progression of a HMW-MAA and/or HER-2/neu-expressing tumor in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a recombinant Listeria strain of the present invention, thereby impeding a growth and/or delaying progression of a HMW-MAA and/or HER-2/neu-expressing tumor in a subject. In another embodiment, the subject mounts an immune response against the HMW-MAA and/or HER-2/neu-expressing tumor. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of treating a HMW-MAA and/or HER-2/neu-expressing tumor in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a recombinant Listeria strain of the present invention, thereby treating a HMW-MAA and/or HER-2/neu-expressing tumor in a subject. In another embodiment, the subject mounts an immune response against the HMW-MAA and/or HER-2/neu-expressing tumor. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of treating abreast cancer in a subject, whereby said breast cancer is associated with expression of HER-2/neu antigen in said subject, said method comprising administering to said subject a composition comprising a recombinant Listeria or recombinant polypeptide, or recombinant vector of the present invention, whereby said subject mounts an immune response against said HER-2/neu-expressing tumor, thereby treating a breast cancer in a subject.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of inhibiting a breast cancer in a subject, whereby said breast cancer is associated with expression of HER-2/neu antigen in said subject, said method comprising administering to said subject a composition comprising a recombinant Listeria or recombinant polypeptide, or recombinant vector of the present invention, whereby said subject mounts an immune response against said HER-2/neu-expressing tumor, thereby inhibiting a breast cancer in a subject.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of suppressing a breast cancer in a subject, whereby said breast cancer is associated with expression of HER-2/neu antigen in said subject, said method comprising administering to said subject a composition comprising a recombinant Listeria or recombinant polypeptide, or recombinant vector of the present invention, whereby said subject mounts an immune response against said HER-2/neu-expressing tumor, thereby suppressing a breast cancer in a subject.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of delaying the onset, reducing the incidence, increasing the latency to relapse, decreasing the latency to remission, decreasing the severity, improving the symptoms of a breast cancer in a subject, whereby said breast cancer is associated with expression of HER-2/neu antigen in said subject, said method comprising administering to said subject a composition comprising a recombinant Listeria or recombinant polypeptide, or recombinant vector of the present invention, whereby said subject mounts an immune response against said HER-2/neu-expressing tumor, thereby delaying the onset, reducing the incidence, increasing the latency to relapse, decreasing the latency to remission, decreasing the severity, improving the symptoms of a breast cancer in a subject.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of inducing an anti-tumor immune response in a subject comprising the step of administering to said subject a composition comprising a recombinant Listeria or recombinant polypeptide, or recombinant vector of the present invention, whereby said composition kills the vasculature of said tumor and induces the release of a tumor antigen, thereby inducing an anti-tumor immune response. In one embodiment, said tumor is a breast tumor, which in one embodiment, is associated with breast cancer.

The recombinant Listeria strain of the present invention utilized in methods of the present invention comprises, in another embodiment, a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention. In another embodiment, the recombinant Listeria strain comprises a recombinant nucleotide molecule of the present invention. In another embodiment, the recombinant Listeria strain is any recombinant Listeria strain described or enumerated above. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of inducing an anti-HMW-MAA and/or anti-HER-2/neu immune response in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention, thereby inducing an anti-HMW-MAA and/or anti-HER-2/neu immune response in a subject.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of inducing an immune response against an HMW-MAA and/or HER-2/neu-expressing tumor in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention, thereby inducing an immune response against an HMW-MAA and/or HER-2/neu-expressing tumor.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of inducing an immune response against a pericyte and/or HER-2/neu antigen in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention, thereby inducing an immune response against a pericyte and/or HER-2/neu antigen.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of impeding a growth and/or delaying progression of a solid tumor expressing HER-2/neu in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention, thereby impeding a growth and/or delaying progression of a solid tumor expressing HER-2/neu in a subject. In another embodiment, the subject mounts an immune response against a pericyte and/or HER-2/neu of the solid tumor. In another embodiment, the pericyte is in a vasculature of the solid tumor. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of treating a solid tumor in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention, thereby treating a solid tumor in a subject. In another embodiment, the subject mounts an immune response against a pericyte and/or HER-2/neu of the solid tumor. In another embodiment, the pericyte is in a vasculature of the solid tumor. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of impeding a vascularization of a solid tumor in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention, thereby impeding a vascularization of a solid tumor in a subject. In another embodiment, the subject mounts an immune response against a pericyte of the solid tumor. In another embodiment, the pericyte is in a vasculature of the solid tumor. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of impeding a growth and/or delaying progression of a HMW-MAA and/or HER-2/neu-expressing tumor in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention, thereby impeding a growth and/or delaying progression of a HMW-MAA and/or HER-2/neu-expressing tumor in a subject. In another embodiment, the subject mounts an immune response against the HMW-MAA and/or HER-2/neu-expressing tumor. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of treating a HMW-MAA and/or HER-2/neu-expressing tumor in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention, thereby treating a HMW-MAA and/or HER-2/neu-expressing tumor in a subject. In another embodiment, the subject mounts an immune response against the HMW-MAA and/or HER-2/neu-expressing tumor. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In other embodiments, the recombinant polypeptide of any of the methods described above have any of the characteristics of a recombinant polypeptide of compositions of the present invention. Each characteristic represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment of methods of the present invention, a vaccine comprising a recombinant Listeria strain of the present invention is administered. In another embodiment, an immunogenic composition comprising a recombinant Listeria strain of the present invention is administered. In another embodiment, a vaccine comprising a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention is administered. In another embodiment, an immunogenic composition comprising a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention is administered. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the target pericyte of methods and compositions of the present invention is an activated pericyte. In another embodiment, the target pericyte is any other type of pericyte known in the art. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, a method or immunogenic composition of methods and compositions of the present invention induces a cell-mediated immune response. In another embodiment, the immunogenic composition induces a predominantly cell-mediated immune response. In another embodiment, the immunogenic composition induces a predominantly Th1-type immune response. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the immune response elicited by methods of the present invention is a cell-mediated immune response. In another embodiment, the immune response is a T-cell-mediated immune response. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

The T cell-mediated immune response induced by methods and compositions of the present invention comprises, in another embodiment, a CTL. In another embodiment, the T cell involved in the T cell-mediated immune response is a CTL. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the T cell-mediated immune response comprises a T helper cell. In another embodiment, the T cell involved in the T cell-mediated immune response is a T helper cell. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment of methods of the present invention, the subject is immunized with an immunogenic composition, vector, or recombinant peptide of the present invention. In another embodiment, the subject is contacted with the immunogenic composition, vector, or recombinant peptide. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of inhibiting adhesion of a cancer cell to the extracellular matrix, comprising inducing an anti-HMW-MAA and/or anti-HER-2/neu immune response by a method of the present invention, thereby inhibiting adhesion of a cancer cell to the extracellular matrix. In another embodiment, the cancer cell is a melanoma cell. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of inhibiting metastasis of a tumor, comprising inducing an anti-HMW-MAA and/or anti-HER-2/neu immune response by a method of the present invention, thereby inhibiting metastasis of a tumor. In another embodiment, the tumor is a melanoma tumor. In another embodiment, the tumor is a breast tumor. In another embodiment, the tumor is a NT-2 tumor. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of inhibiting migration of a cancer cell, comprising inducing an anti-HMW-MAA and/or anti-HER-2/neu immune response by a method of the present invention, thereby inhibiting migration of a cancer cell. In another embodiment, the cancer cell is a melanoma cell. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of inhibiting proliferation of cells in a tumor, comprising inducing an anti-HMW-MAA and/or anti-HER-2/neu immune response by a method of the present invention, thereby inhibiting proliferation of cells in a tumor. In another embodiment, the tumor is a melanoma tumor. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of reducing invasiveness of a tumor, comprising inducing an anti-HMW-MAA and/or anti-HER-2/neu immune response by a method of the present invention, thereby reducing invasiveness of a tumor. In another embodiment, the tumor is a melanoma tumor. In another embodiment, anti-HMW-MAA and/or anti-HER-2/neu immune responses inhibit formation of HMW-MAA-MT3-MMP (membrane type metalloproteinases) complexes. In another embodiment, inhibition of formation of these complexes inhibits degradation of type I collagen by melanoma cells. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of inhibiting conversion of plasminogen into plasmin in the vicinity of a tumor, comprising inducing an anti-HMW-MAA and/or anti-HER-2/neu immune response by a method of the present invention, thereby inhibiting conversion of plasminogen into plasmin in the vicinity of a tumor. In another embodiment, the tumor is a melanoma tumor. In another embodiment, the tumor is a breast tumor. In another embodiment, inhibiting plasmin release inhibits, in turn, degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of inhibiting sequestration of angiostatin in the vicinity of a tumor, comprising inducing an anti-HMW-MAA immune response by a method of the present invention, thereby inhibiting sequestration of angiostatin in the vicinity of a tumor. In another embodiment, the tumor is a melanoma tumor. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, a peptide of the present invention is homologous to a peptide enumerated herein. The terms “homology,” “homologous,” etc, when in reference to any protein or peptide, refer, in one embodiment, to a percentage of amino acid residues in the candidate sequence that are identical with the residues of a corresponding native polypeptide, after aligning the sequences and introducing gaps, if necessary, to achieve the maximum percent homology, and not considering any conservative substitutions as part of the sequence identity. Methods and computer programs for the alignment are well known in the art.

Homology is, in another embodiment, determined by computer algorithm for sequence alignment, by methods well described in the art. For example, computer algorithm analysis of nucleic acid sequence homology can include the utilization of any number of software packages available, such as, for example, the BLAST, DOMAIN, BEAUTY (BLAST Enhanced Alignment Utility), GENPEPT and TREMBL packages.

In another embodiment, “homology” or “homologous” refers to a sequence sharing greater than 70% identity with a second sequence. In another embodiment, “homology” refers to a sequence sharing greater than 72% identity with a second sequence. In another embodiment, “homology” refers to a sequence sharing greater than 75% identity with a second sequence. In another embodiment, “homology” refers to a sequence sharing greater than 78% identity with a second sequence. In another embodiment, “homology” refers to a sequence sharing greater than 80% identity with a second sequence. In another embodiment, “homology” refers to a sequence sharing greater than 82% identity with a second sequence. In another embodiment, “homology” refers to a sequence sharing greater than 83% identity with a second sequence. In another embodiment, “homology” refers to a sequence sharing greater than 85% identity with a second sequence. In another embodiment, “homology” refers to a sequence sharing greater than 87% identity with a second sequence. In another embodiment, “homology” refers to a sequence sharing greater than 88% identity with a second sequence. In another embodiment, “homology” refers to a sequence sharing greater than 90% identity with a second sequence. In another embodiment, “homology” refers to a sequence sharing greater than 92% identity with a second sequence. In another embodiment, “homology” refers to a sequence sharing greater than 93% identity with a second sequence. In another embodiment, “homology” refers to a sequence sharing greater than 95% identity with a second sequence. In another embodiment, “homology” refers to a sequence sharing greater than 96% identity with a second sequence. In another embodiment, “homology” refers to a sequence sharing greater than 97% identity with a second sequence. In another embodiment, “homology” refers to a sequence sharing greater than 98% identity with a second sequence. In another embodiment, “homology” refers to a sequence sharing greater than 99% identity with a second sequence. In another embodiment, “homology” refers to identity to one of SEQ ID No: 1-14 of 100% identity with a second sequence. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, homology is determined via determination of candidate sequence hybridization, methods of which are well described in the art (See, for example, “Nucleic Acid Hybridization” Hames, B. D., and Higgins S. J., Eds. (1985); Sambrook et al., 2001, Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Press, N.Y.; and Ausubel et al., 1989, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Green Publishing Associates and Wiley Interscience, N.Y). In other embodiments, methods of hybridization are carried out under moderate to stringent conditions, to the complement of a DNA encoding a native caspase peptide. Hybridization conditions being, for example, overnight incubation at 42° C. in a solution comprising: 10-20% formamide, 5×SSC (150 mM NaCl, 15 mM trisodium citrate), 50 mM sodium phosphate (pH 7.6), 5×Denhardt's solution, 10% dextran sulfate, and 20 μg/ml denatured, sheared salmon sperm DNA.

Protein and/or peptide homology for any AA sequence listed herein is determined, in another embodiment, by methods well described in the art, including immunoblot analysis, or via computer algorithm analysis of AA sequences, utilizing any of a number of software packages available, via established methods. Some of these packages include the FASTA, BLAST, MPsrch or Scanps packages, and, in another embodiment, employ the use of the Smith and Waterman algorithms, and/or global/local or BLOCKS alignments for analysis. Each method of determining homology represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment of the present invention, “nucleic acids” or “nucleotide” refers to a string of at least two base-sugar-phosphate combinations. The term includes, in one embodiment, DNA and RNA. “Nucleotides” refers, in one embodiment, to the monomeric units of nucleic acid polymers. RNA is, in one embodiment, in the form of a tRNA (transfer RNA), snRNA (small nuclear RNA), rRNA (ribosomal RNA), mRNA (messenger RNA), anti-sense RNA, small inhibitory RNA (siRNA), micro RNA (miRNA) and ribozymes. The use of siRNA and miRNA has been described (Caudy A A et al, Genes & Devel 16: 2491-96 and references cited therein). DNA can be, in other embodiments, in form of plasmid DNA, viral DNA, linear DNA, or chromosomal DNA or derivatives of these groups. In addition, these forms of DNA and RNA can be single, double, triple, or quadruple stranded. The term also includes, in another embodiment, artificial nucleic acids that contain other types of backbones but the same bases. In one embodiment, the artificial nucleic acid is a PNA (peptide nucleic acid). PNA contain peptide backbones and nucleotide bases and are able to bind, in one embodiment, to both DNA and RNA molecules. In another embodiment, the nucleotide is oxetane modified. In another embodiment, the nucleotide is modified by replacement of one or more phosphodiester bonds with a phosphorothioate bond. In another embodiment, the artificial nucleic acid contains any other variant of the phosphate backbone of native nucleic acids known in the art. The use of phosphothiorate nucleic acids and PNA are known to those skilled in the art, and are described in, for example, Neilsen P E, Curr Opin Struct Biol 9:353-57; and Raz N K et al Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 297:1075-84. The production and use of nucleic acids is known to those skilled in art and is described, for example, in Molecular Cloning, (2001), Sambrook and Russell, eds. and Methods in Enzymology: Methods for molecular cloning in eukaryotic cells (2003) Purchio and G. C. Fareed. Each nucleic acid derivative represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a kit comprising a compound or composition utilized in performing a method of the present invention. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a kit comprising a composition, tool, or instrument of the present invention. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In one embodiment, the data presented herein demonstrate the safety of the Lm-HMW-MAA vaccine (FIG. 16). In another embodiment, the data presented herein demonstrate the lack of toxicity of the Lm-HMW-MAA vaccine described herein (FIG. 16). In another embodiment, the data presented herein demonstrate the lack of teratogenicity of the Lm-HMW-MAA vaccine described herein (FIG. 16).

In one embodiment, a composition of the present invention leads to an infiltration of CD8⁺ T cells around blood vessels and in the stroma of tumors from immunized mice. In one embodiment, the presence of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes correlates with clinical responses in cancer immunotherapy. As described hereinbelow, despite their effect on vasculature, compositions of the present invention do not lead to toxicity such as wound healing, pregnancy or fertility problems associated with blood vessel damage in mice immunized with Lm-HMW-MAA-C.

In another embodiment, compositions of the present invention may be used in combination with other therapies for treating tumors. In another embodiment, compositions of the present invention may be used in combination with metronomic therapies to reduce tumor angiogenesis. In one embodiment, compositions of the present invention may be used in combination with an inhibitor of PDGFR signaling, which in one embodiment, reduces pericyte counts, or in another embodiment, with a VEGFR inhibitor. In one embodiment, targeting pericytes in the tumor stroma might cause a certain degree of vasculitis that could promote the infiltration of the tumor by specific T cells to tumor-associated antigens and improve the efficacy of cancer immunotherapies. In another embodiment, compositions of the present invention may be used in combination with active antibody-mediated therapies, which in one embodiment, target HMW-MAA.

In one embodiment, a “vaccine” is a composition that induces an immune response in a host. In one embodiment, the immune response is to a particular antigen or to a particular epitope on the antigen. In one embodiment, the vaccine may be a peptide vaccine, in another embodiment, a DNA vaccine. In another embodiment, the vaccine may be contained within and, in another embodiment, delivered by, a cell, which in one embodiment is a bacterial cell, which in one embodiment, is a Listeria. In one embodiment, a vaccine may prevent a subject from contracting or developing a disease or condition, wherein in another embodiment, a vaccine may be therapeutic to a subject having a disease or condition. Therapeutic and prophylactic effects of the compositions of the present invention are described hereinabove. In one embodiment, a vaccine of the present invention comprises a composition of the present invention and an adjuvant, cytokine, chemokine, or combination thereof.

Pharmaceutical Compositions and Methods of Administration

“Pharmaceutical composition” refers, in another embodiment, to a therapeutically effective amount of the active ingredient, i.e. the recombinant peptide or vector comprising or encoding same, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent. A “therapeutically effective amount” refers, in another embodiment, to that amount which provides a therapeutic effect for a given condition and administration regimen.

The pharmaceutical compositions containing the active ingredient can be, in another embodiment, administered to a subject by any method known to a person skilled in the art, such as parenterally, transmucosally, transdermally, intramuscularly, intravenously, intra-dermally, subcutaneously, intra-peritonealy, intra-ventricularly, intra-cranially, intra-vaginally, or intra-tumorally.

In another embodiment of methods and compositions of the present invention, the pharmaceutical compositions are administered orally, and are thus formulated in a form suitable for oral administration, i.e. as a solid or a liquid preparation. Suitable solid oral formulations include tablets, capsules, pills, granules, pellets and the like. Suitable liquid oral formulations include solutions, suspensions, dispersions, emulsions, oils and the like. In another embodiment of the present invention, the active ingredient is formulated in a capsule. In accordance with this embodiment, the compositions of the present invention comprise, in addition to the active compound and the inert carrier or diluent, a hard gelating capsule.

In another embodiment, the pharmaceutical compositions are administered by intravenous, intra-arterial, or intra-muscular injection of a liquid preparation. Suitable liquid formulations include solutions, suspensions, dispersions, emulsions, oils and the like. In another embodiment, the pharmaceutical compositions are administered intravenously and are thus formulated in a form suitable for intravenous administration. In another embodiment, the pharmaceutical compositions are administered intra-arterially and are thus formulated in a form suitable for intra-arterial administration. In another embodiment, the pharmaceutical compositions are administered intramuscularly and are thus formulated in a form suitable for intramuscular administration.

In another embodiment, the pharmaceutical compositions are administered topically to body surfaces and are thus formulated in a form suitable for topical administration. Suitable topical formulations include gels, ointments, creams, lotions, drops and the like. For topical administration, the recombinant peptide or vector is prepared and applied as a solution, suspension, or emulsion in a physiologically acceptable diluent with or without a pharmaceutical carrier.

In another embodiment, the active ingredient is delivered in a vesicle, e.g. a liposome.

In other embodiments, carriers or diluents used in methods of the present invention include, but are not limited to, a gum, a starch (e.g. corn starch, pregeletanized starch), a sugar (e.g., lactose, mannitol, sucrose, dextrose), a cellulosic material (e.g. microcrystalline cellulose), an acrylate (e.g. polymethylacrylate), calcium carbonate, magnesium oxide, talc, or mixtures thereof.

In other embodiments, pharmaceutically acceptable carriers for liquid formulations are aqueous or non-aqueous solutions, suspensions, emulsions or oils. Examples of non-aqueous solvents are propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and injectable organic esters such as ethyl oleate. Aqueous carriers include water, alcoholic/aqueous solutions, emulsions or suspensions, including saline and buffered media. Examples of oils are those of animal, vegetable, or synthetic origin, for example, peanut oil, soybean oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, fish-liver oil, another marine oil, or a lipid from milk or eggs.

In another embodiment, parenteral vehicles (for subcutaneous, intravenous, intraarterial, or intramuscular injection) include sodium chloride solution, Ringer's dextrose, dextrose and sodium chloride, lactated Ringer's and fixed oils. Intravenous vehicles include fluid and nutrient replenishers, electrolyte replenishers such as those based on Ringer's dextrose, and the like. Examples are sterile liquids such as water and oils, with or without the addition of a surfactant and other pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvants. In general, water, saline, aqueous dextrose and related sugar solutions, and glycols such as propylene glycols or polyethylene glycol are preferred liquid carriers, particularly for injectable solutions. Examples of oils are those of animal, vegetable, or synthetic origin, for example, peanut oil, soybean oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, fish-liver oil, another marine oil, or a lipid from milk or eggs.

In another embodiment, the pharmaceutical compositions provided herein are controlled-release compositions, i.e. compositions in which the active ingredient is released over a period of time after administration. Controlled- or sustained-release compositions include formulation in lipophilic depots (e.g. fatty acids, waxes, oils). In another embodiment, the composition is an immediate-release composition, i.e. a composition in which all the active ingredient is released immediately after administration.

Experimental Details Section

Mice. Female C57BL/6, BALB/c and FVB/N mice were purchased from Charles River Laboratories. A breeder pair of HLA-A2/K^b was generously provided by Dr. L. Sherman (The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, Calif.). These mice were maintained and bred in the animal core facility at the University of Pennsylvania. The FVB/N HER-2/neu transgenic mice (Muller, Cancer Metastasis Rev 1991; 10:217-27) were housed and bred at the Veterans' Administration Hospital affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania. Mice were six to eight weeks-old at the start of the experiments, which were done in accordance with regulations by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the University of Pennsylvania.

Antibodies. The anti-HMW-MAA mAb VT80.12 has been previously described (Chen Z J, Ferrone S. Comparison of the binding parameters to melanoma cells of antihuman high molecular weight-melanoma associated antigen (HMW-MAA) monoclonal antibodies (mAb) and syngeneic anti-anti-idiotypic (anti-anti-id) mAb. Ann NY Acad Sci 1993; 690:398-401). Goat anti-mouse IgG-PE, anti-CD8b.2-FITC, anti-IFN-γ-PE, anti-mouse CD31-FITC, anti-mouse CD8α-PE, rat IgG2a and rat IgG2b isotype controls were purchased from BD Biosciences. Anti-α-Smooth Muscle (αSMA)-Cy3 and anti-FLAG M2 monoclonal antibodies were purchased from Sigma. Secondary anti-rabbit Alexa Fluor 488 was purchased from Invitrogen and anti-rat NG2 from Chemicon. The anti-CD4 mAb GK1.5, anti-CD8 mAb 2.43 and anti-CD25 mAb PC61 were purified using protein G sepharose columns (Amersham Biosciences).

Flow cytometry. Cells were harvested, washed in FACS buffer (PBS-2% FBS) and Fc receptors blocked with 2.4G2 hybridoma supernatant. After washing, cells were resuspended in 50 μl of FACS buffer containing the appropriate antibodies and incubated at 4° C. in the dark for 30 minutes. Cells were washed twice and when necessary incubated with a secondary antibody. Otherwise, cells were fixed in 2% formaldehyde and analyzed using a FACS Calibur cytometer and CellQuest Pro software (BD Biosciences).

Cell lines. Cell culture media and supplements were purchased from Gibco (Invitrogen). B16F10 cells were maintained in DMEM and RENCA and J774 cells in RPMI 1640. Media was supplemented with 10% FBS, 10 mM HEPES buffer, 2 mM L-glutamine, 0.1 mM non-essential amino acids, 1 mM sodium pyruvate and 50 μg/ml of gentamicin. The NT-2 cell line was maintained in RPMI 1640 supplemented with 20% FBS, 10 mM HEPES buffer, 2 mM L-glutamine, 0.1 mM non-essential amino acids, 1 mM sodium pyruvate, 20 μg/ml of insulin, 100 U/ml of penicillin and 100 μg/ml of streptomycin. All cell cultures were kept at 37° C. and 5% CO₂. B16F10 cells were transfected with a pcDNA3.1⁺ plasmid containing the full-length HMW-MAA cDNA sequence (Peng L, Ko E, Luo W, Wang X, Shrikant P A, Ferrone S. CD4-dependent potentiation of a high molecular weight-melanoma-associated antigen-specific CTL response elicited in HLA-A2/Kb transgenic mice. J Immunol 2006; 176:2307-15), using lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen), as recommended by the manufacturer. Stable transfected cells were maintained in medium supplemented with 1 mg/ml of G418 and single clones were isolated using limiting dilution. Individual clones were screened for HMW-MAA expression by flow cytometry using the monoclonal antibody VT80.12.

Construction of Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA-C vaccine. A fragment corresponding to HMW-MAA residues 2160 to 2258 was amplified by PCR using the primers 5′-TGCTCGAGGCCACTGAGCCTTACAATGCTGCC-3′ (forward primer, XhoI site underlined) and 5′-CCCGGGTTACTACTTATCGTCGTCATCCTTGTAATCCTGGACGTCATGCTTGCCCG-3′ (reverse primer, XmaI site underlined, stop codon in bold and Flag sequence in italics). The PCR product was ligated into pCR2.1-TOPO plasmid (Invitrogen), confirmed by sequencing and subsequently excised by double digestion with XhoI and XmaI (New England Biolabs). The fragment was ligated into a pGG55-based plasmid downstream and fused to a gene encoding for the first 441 residues of the LLO protein, whose expression is driven by the hly promoter. The construction of the pGG55 has been described in details elsewhere (Gunn G R, Zubair A, Peters C, Pan Z K, Wu T C, Paterson Y. Two Listeria monocytogenes vaccine vectors that express different molecular forms of human papilloma virus-16 (HPV-16) E7 induce qualitatively different T cell immunity that correlates with their ability to induce regression of established tumors immortalized by HPV-16. J Immunol 2001; 167:6471-9). The resultant plasmid was electroporated into the PrfA-defective Lm strain XFL-7 (kindly provided by Hao Shen, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.), which is derived from the Lm strain 10403S. Positive clones were selected on Brain Heart Infusion (BHI, Difco) plates supplemented with 34 μg/ml of chloramphenicol and 250 μg/ml of streptomycin. The resultant strain was named Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA-C, which was subsequently passaged twice in vivo as previously described (Peters C, Paterson Y. Enhancing the immunogenicity of bioengineered Listeria monocytogenes by passaging through live animal hosts. Vaccine 2003; 21:1187-94.

Effect of Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA-C on tumor growth. Mice were given s.c. 2×10⁵ of B16F10-HMW-MAA, B16F10 or RENCA tumor cells on the flank in 0.2 ml of PBS. On day 3 after tumor inoculation, mice were immunized i.p. with 2.5×10⁷ CFU of Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA-C. This dose was determined as one-tenth of the minimum dose observed to have adverse effects on mice and it was used in all experiments. In the NT-2 model, mice were given 1×10⁶ tumor cells and immunized 7 days later with Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA-C. The FVB/N HER-2/neu transgenic mice received the first dose of vaccine when 6-8-weeks old. Immunizations were repeated weekly totaling three doses of the vaccine in all experiments. In the control groups, mice received either PBS or an equivalent dose of an irrelevant Lm vaccine (Lm-LLO-E7 or Lm-LLO-NY-ESO-1_101-156). Tumors were measured every 2-3 days with calipers and the shortest and longest surface diameters were recorded for each individual tumor. Mice were sacrificed when they developed open wounds or tumors reached 20 mm in diameter. Tumor-free surviving mice challenged with B16F10-HMW-MAA were rechallenged in the opposite flank with the same cell line 7-weeks after the first inoculation.

In vivo cell depletions. For CD4 and CD8 in vivo depletions, 500 μg of GK1.5 and 2.43 antibodies, respectively, were given i.p. on days 1, 2, 6 and 9. The control groups received either an anti-p-galactosidase antibody or were left untreated. For CD25 depletion, 500 μg of PC61 was given i.p. on days 0 and 2. These antibodies were tested and confirmed to induce depletion of the target cells by flow cytometry (data not shown).

Transfer of anti-tumor immunity (Winn assay). C57BL/6 mice were injected twice at a one-week interval with Lm-HMW-MAA-C. Control mice were left untreated. One-week after the last immunization, mice were sacrificed and the spleens harvested. CD8.sup.+T cells were enriched from the splenocyte suspension by negative magnetic selection (DYNAL®. Mouse CD8 Cell Negative Isolation Kit, Invitrogen) and comprised 85% of the total cells as assessed by flow-cytometry. CD8⁺T cells either from naive or Lm-HMW-MAA-C immunized mice were mixed in PBS with B16F10-HMW-MAA at a ratio of 10:1 and 0.2 ml of the cell suspension, containing 2×10⁵ tumor cells and 2×10⁶ CD8⁺T cells, was inoculated s.c. on the flank of naive mice. Tumors were measured every 2 days with a caliper and the size recorded as the mean tumor diameter.

Synthetic peptide. The HLA-A2-binding synthetic peptide LILPLLFYL (SEQ ID NO: 45), which corresponds to HMW-MAA residues 2238 to 2246, was purchased from EZBiolab.

Murine IFN-γ assays to detect antigen-specific CD8⁺ T-cells. Spleens from immunized mice were harvested one-week after last immunization. After lysing red blood cells, splenocytes were stimulated with 1 μM of the HMW-MAA_2238-2246 peptide and IFN-γ production detected by either ELISpot or intracellular cytokine staining. ELISpots were performed according to the manufacturer instructions (Mabtech), and spot forming cells (SFC) counted using a dissecting microscope. Intracellular cytokine staining for IFN-γ was done as previously described (Peters C, Paterson Y. Enhancing the immunogenicity of bioengineered Listeria monocytogenes by passaging through live animal hosts. Vaccine 2003; 21:1187-94). Data was collected using a FACS Calibur cytometer and analyzed using CellQuest Pro software. Cells were gated on CD8^high and analyzed for intracellular IFN-γ.

Immunofluorescence. On day 84 post tumor inoculation, mice were sacrificed and the NT-2 tumors were surgically excised, cryopreserved in OCT freezing medium and cryosectioned for 8-10 micron thick sections. For immunofluorescence, samples were thawed and fixed using 4% formalin. After blocking (2.4G2 conditioned medium/10% FBS/5% normal rat serum and normal mouse serum), sections were stained with primary antibodies in blocking solution in a humidified chamber at 37° C. for 1 hour. Samples were stained with secondary antibody following the same procedure as for primary staining. DAPI (Invitrogen) staining was performed according to manufacturer instructions. Intracellular stains (αSMA) were done in PBS/0.1% tween/1% BSA solution. Slides were cover-slipped using Biomeda mounting solution (Biomeda) with anti-fading agents, set for 24 hours and kept at 4° C. until imaging using Spot Image Software (2006) and BX51 series Olympus fluorescent microscope. Images were merged using Spot Image Software and quantitation was performed after an ROI was gated using Image Pro Software (2006). All images are a merged series of three different channels captured for same exposure time.

Evaluation of possible toxicity associated with inhibition of angiogenesis. Six to eight week old FVB/N female mice were immunized three consecutive times weekly with either a control Lm vaccine or Lm-LLO-HMWMAA-C. On the fourth week, safety studies were conducted. For pregnancy and fertility, 5 mice per group were allowed to mate with individual housed males. Coitus was monitored and confirmed by the presence of a vaginal plug. Time to gestation, pup birth weight and total litter size were measured. The wound healing assay utilized in this study was done according to previously described methods used in antiangiogenesis studies (Niethammer A G, Xiang R, Becker J C, et al. A DNA vaccine against VEGF receptor 2 prevents effective angiogenesis and inhibits tumor growth. Nat Med 2002; 8:1369-75). Briefly, mice were anesthetized, hair removed and skin-cleaned with an aseptic wipe. Two circular 3 mm in diameter wounds were punched from the skin using a sterile skin biopsy tool (Acuderm). Wounds were not treated and no infection was observed. Average time to wound closure was monitored and considered complete when a scar was formed without any visible scab left.

Statistical analysis. Data were analyzed using either the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test or the parametric t test when appropriated. The log-rank test was used for survival data. All statistical analyses were done with the SPSS15.0 software. Statistical significance was based on a value of P≦0.05.

Example 1

Construction of LLO-HMW-MAA Constructs and Listeria Strains Expressing Same

LLO-HMW-MAA constructs were created as follows:

pGG-55, the precursor of the LLO-HMW-MAA constructs, was created from pAM401, a shuttle vector able to replicate in both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria (Wirth R et al, J Bacteriol, 165: 831, 1986). pAM401 contains a gram-positive chloramphenicol resistance gene and gram negative tetracycline resistance determinant. In pGG-55, the hly promoter drives the expression of the first 441 AA of the hly gene product, (lacking the hemolytic C-terminus, having the sequence set forth in SEQ ID No: 3), which is joined by the XhoI site to the E7 gene, yielding a hly-E7 fusion gene that is transcribed and secreted as LLO-E7.

Generation of pGG-55: A fusion of a listeriolysin fragment to E7 (“LLO-E7”) and the pluripotential transcription factor prfA were subcloned in pAM401 as follows: The DNA fragment encoding the first 420 AA of LLO and its promoter and upstream regulatory sequences was PCR amplified with LM genomic DNA used as a template and ligated into pUC19. PCR primers used were 5′-GGCCCGGGCCCCCTCCTTTGAT-3′ (SEQ ID No: 17) and 5′-GGTCTAGATCATAATTTACTTCATCC-3′ (SEQ ID No: 18). E7 was amplified by PCR using the primers 5′-GGCTCGAGCATGGAGATACACC-3′ (SEQ ID No: 19; XhoI site is underlined) and 5′-GGGGACTAGTTTATGGTTTCTGAGAACA-3′ (SEQ ID No: 20; SpeI site is underlined) and ligated into pCR2.1 (Invitrogen, San Diego, Calif.). E7 was excised from pCR2.1 by XhoI/SpeI digestion and subsequently ligated as an in-frame translational fusion into pUC19-hly downstream of the hemolysin gene fragment. The fusion was then subcloned into the multilinker of pAM401. The prfA gene was then subcloned into the SalI site of the resulting plasmid, yielding pGG-55 (FIG. 1).

pGG34A, B and C were created from pGG-55 as follows:

HMW-MAA fragments A, B, and C (encoding AA 360-554, 701-1130, and 2160-2258, respectively, FIG. 1) have the following sequences:

HMW-MAA-A:
(SEQ ID No: 21)
Ttcaatggccagaggcgggggctgcgggaagctttgctgacgcgcaacat
ggcagccggctgcaggctggaggaggaggagtatgaggacgatgcctatg
gacattatgaagctttctccaccctggcccctgaggcttggccagccatg
gagctgcctgagccatgcgtgcctgagccagggctgcctcctgtctttgc
caatttcacccagctgctgactatcagcccactggtggtggccgaggggg
gcacagcctggcttgagtggaggcatgtgcagcccacgctggacctgatg
gaggctgagctgcgcaaatcccaggtgctgttcagcgtgacccgaggggc
acgccatggcgagctcgagctggacatcccgggagcccaggcacgaaaaa
tgttcaccctcctggacgtggtgaaccgcaaggcccgcttcatccacgat
ggctctgaggacacctccgaccagctggtgctggaggtgtcggtgacggc
tcgggtgcccatgccctcatgccttcggaggggccaaacatacctcctgc
ccatccaggtcaaccctgtcaatgacccaccccac.

HMW-MAA-B:
(SEQ ID No: 22)
Gtccgcgtcactggggccctgcagtttggggagctgcagaaacacggggc
aggtggggtggagggtgctgagtggtgggccacacaggcgttccaccagc
gggatgtggagcagggccgcgtgaggtacctgagcactgacccacagcac
cacgcttacgacaccgtggagaacctggccctggaggtgcaggtgggcca
ggagatcctgagcaatctgtccttcccagtgaccatccagagagccactg
tgtggatgctgcggctggagccactgcacactcagaacacccagcaggag
accctcaccacagcccacctggaggccaccctggaggaggcaggcccaag
ccccccaaccttccattatgaggtggttcaggctcccaggaaaggcaacc
ttcaactacagggcacaaggctgtcagatggccagggcttcacccaggat
gacatacaggctggccgggtgaccttcaacagtgccagctacctctatga
ggtcatggagcggccccgccatgggaggttggcttggcgtgggacacagg
acaagaccactatggtgacatccagagcagtggtgacatggcctgggagg
aggtacggggtgtcttccgagtggccatccagcccgtgaatgaccacgcc
cctgtgcagaccatcagccggatcttccatgtggcccggggtgggcggcg
gctgctgactacagacgacgtggccttcagcgatgctgactcgggctttg
ctgacgcccagctggtgcttacccgcaaggacctcctctttggcagtatc
gtggccgtagatgagcccacgcggcccatctaccgcttcacccaggagga
cctcaggaagaggcgagtactgttcgtgcactcaggggctgaccgtggct
ggatccagctgcaggtgtccgacgggcaacaccaggccactgcgctgctg
gaggtgcaggcctcggaaccctacctccgtgtggcc.

HMW-MAA-C:
(SEQ ID No: 23)
Gccactgagccttacaatgctgcccggccctacagcgtggccctgctcag
tgtccccgaggccgcccggacggaagcagggaagccagagagcagcaccc
ccacaggcgagccaggccccatggcatccagccctgagcccgctgtggcc
aagggaggcttcctgagcttccttgaggccaacagacgtccag.

The fragments were amplified using the following primers. The XhoI sites in the forward primers and XmaI sites (A and C) or SpeI site (B) in the reverse primers are underlined:

Fragment A:-forward primer
(SEQ ID No: 24)
TCCTCGAGGTCAATGGCCAGAGGCGGGGG.
Reverse:
(SEQ ID No: 25)
CCCGGGTTACTACTTATCGTCGTCATCCTTGTAATCGTGGGGTGGGTCAT
TGAC.

Fragment B: forward:
(SEQ ID No: 26)
GCCTCGAGTTCCGCGTCACTGGGGCCCTG.
Reverse:
(SEQ ID No: 27)
ACTAGTTTACTACTTATCGTCGTCATCCTTGTAATCGGCCACACGGAGGT
AGGGTTC.

Fragment C: Forward:
(SEQ ID No: 28)
TGCTCGAGGCCACTGAGCCTTACAATGCTGCC.
Reverse:
(SEQ ID No: 29)
CCCGGGTTACTACTTATCGTCGTCATCCTTGTAATCCTGGACGTCATGCT
TGCCCG.

Fragments A-C were then subcloned into pGG-55, using the XhoI site at the end of the hly sequence and the XmaI or SpeI site following the gene.

A prfA negative strain of Listeria, XFL-7 (provided by Dr. Hao Shen, University of Pennsylvania), was then transformed with pGG34A, B and C, to select for the retention of the plasmids in vivo.

Example 2

LLO-HMW-MAA Constructs are Expressed in Listeria Materials and Experimental Methods

Bacteria Cultivation and Harvesting

Recombinant Listeria monocytogenes (LM) expressing the HMW-MAA fragments A, B and C fused to LLO were grown overnight in BHI medium supplemented with streptomycin (250 ug/ml) and chloramphenicol (25 ug/ml). For induction of endogeneous LLO, bacteria were cultivated in the presence of 0.2% charcoal. Culture supernatants were cleared by centrifugation at 14000 rpm for 5 minutes, and 1.35 ml supernatant was mixed with 0.15 ml of 100% TCA for protein precipitation. After incubation on ice for 1 hour, the solution was spun for 10 minutes, 14000 rpm. The pellet was resuspended in 45 microliter (mcL) of 1×SDS-PAGE gel loading buffer, 5 mcL of 1 M DTT was added, and the sample was heated at 75° C. for 5 minutes. 5-10 mcL of protein was loaded into each well and run for 50 minutes at 200V using MOPS buffer.

After transfer to PVDF membranes, membranes were incubated with either a rabbit anti-PEST polyclonal antibody (1:3000), which recognizes the PEST sequence in the LLO protein, or with the B3-19 monoclonal antibody, which recognizes the endogenous LLO only, then incubated with HRP-conjugated anti-rabbit antibody. Signals were detected with SUPERSIGNAL® West Pico Chemiluminescent Substrate (Pierce, Rockford, Ill.).

Results

To determine whether the LLO-HMW-MAA constructs could be expressed in Listeria, supernatant was harvested from LM strains transformed with the LLO-HMW-MAA A, B and C plasmids, and assayed for presence of the fusion proteins. All three strains produced fusion proteins of the expected sizes when probed with anti-PEST antibody (48 Kda for LLO, 75 Kda for HMW-MAA-A, 98 Kda for HMW-MAA-B, and 62 Kda for HMW-MAA-C; FIG. 2A). Anti-LLO antibody revealed 58 Kda band for LLO in all three strains and controls (FIG. 2B).

Thus, LLO-HMW-MAA constructs are expressed in Listeria.

Example 3

Listeria Strains Expressing LLO-HMW-MAA Constructs Infect and Grow Inside Cells Materials and Experimental Methods

Cell Infection Assay

Murine macrophage-like J774 cells were infected at a MOI (multiplicity of infection) of 1. After a 1-hour incubation, gentamicin was added to kill extracellular Listeria, intracellular Listeria was recovered every 2 hours by lysing the J774 cells with water and plating serial dilutions of the lysate on BHI plates supplemented with streptomycin (250 micrograms (mcg)/ml) and chloramphenicol (25 mcg/ml). Recovered colonies were counted and used to determine the number of Listeria inside J774 cells.

Results

To determine the growth characteristics and virulence of Listeria strains expressing LLO-HMW-MAA constructs, the growth rate of Listeria strains from the previous Example in BHI media was measured. Each of the strains grew with kinetics very similar to wild-type (10403S) Listeria (FIG. 3A). Next, J774 cells were incubated with the Listeria strains, and intracellular growth was measured. Intracellular growth was very similar to wild-type for each strain (FIG. 3B).

Thus, Listeria strains expressing LLO-HMW-MAA constructs maintain their ability to grow in media, to infect cells, and to grow intracellularly.

Example 4

Vaccination with HMW-MAA-Expressing Lm Impedes B16F0-OVA Tumor Growth Materials and Experimental Methods

Measurement of Tumor Growth

Tumors were measured every second day with calipers spanning the shortest and longest surface diameters. The mean of these two measurements was plotted as the mean tumor diameter in millimeters against various time points. Mice were sacrificed when the tumor diameter reached 20 mm. Tumor measurements for each time point are shown only for surviving mice.

Results

32 C57BL/6 mice (n=8 per group) were inoculated with 5×10⁵ B16F0-Ova. On days 3, 10 and 17 the mice were immunized with one of 3 constructs, Lm-OVA (10⁶ cfu), Lm-LLO-OVA (10⁸ cfu; positive control), and Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA-C (10⁸ cfu). Despite the lack of expression of HMW-MAA by the tumor cells, Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA-C vaccination impeded tumor growth, significantly, but to a lesser extent than Lm-LLO-OVA (FIGS. 4A-B). In an additional experiment, similar results were observed with all three Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA strains (2.5×10⁷ cfu each of A and C; 1×10⁸ cfu of B; FIG. 4C).

A similar experiment was performed with RENCA cells. 40 BALB/c mice (n=8 per group) were inoculated with 2×10⁵ RENCA tumor cells. On days 3, 10, and 17, the mice were immunized with one of four constructs, Lm-HMW-MAA-A, B, or C ((2.5×10⁷ cfu each of A and C; 1×10⁸ cfu of B), or GGE7 (Lm-LLO-E7; 1.0×10⁸ cfu), or were left unvaccinated (naïve). All three Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA strains impeded tumor growth, with Lm-HMW-MAA-C exerting the strongest effect (FIGS. 4D-4E).

Thus, vaccination with HMW-MAA-expressing Lm impedes the growth of tumors, even in the absence of expression of HMW-MAA by the tumor cells.

Example 5

Vaccination with HMW-MAA-Expressing Lm Impedes B16F10-HMW-MAA Tumor Growth via CD4+ AND CD8+ Cells Materials and Experimental Methods

Engineering of B16 and B16F10 Murine Tumor Cell Lines to Express HMW-MAA

The B16F10 melanoma was chosen as a mouse tumor model to test the therapeutic efficacy of the Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA vaccine because HMW-MAA is expressed in a high proportion of melanoma lesions in humans. The B16F10 cell line, which does not express the mouse HMW-MAA homolog AN2, was transfected with the full-length HMW-MAA gene. B16F10 cells were transfected with pcDNA3.1-HMW-MAA plasmid, containing the full-length HMW-MAA cDNA expressed under the control of the CMV promoter. Stably transfected cells were selected by resistance to G418 antibiotic, and clones were subsequently grown from single cells by limiting dilution. Selected clones were tested by flow cytometry for HMW-MAA expression using the HMW-MAA specific monoclonal antibody VT80.12. Based on the flow cytometry results, B16F10-HMW-MAA clone 7 was selected for future experiments (FIG. 5).

CD4+ and CD8+ Depletion

32 C57BL/6 mice were inoculated with 2×10⁵ B16F10-HMW-MAA/CMV7. On days 3, 10 and 17 the mice were immunized with Lm-HMW-MAA-C (2.5×10⁷ cfu), except the control naïve group. For CD4 and CD8 depletions, 500 μg of GK1.5 and 2.43 were given i.p. on days 1, 2, 6 and 9, as well as the control antibody G1. For CD25 depletion, 500 μg of CP61 was given i.p. on days 0 and 2.

Immunization of HLA A2/K^b Transgenic Mice with Lm-HMW-MAA-B or Lm-HMW-MAA-C

HLA A2/K^b transgenic mice express a chimeric class I molecule composed of the α1 and α2 domains of the human A*0201 allele and the α3 domains of the mouse H-2K^b class I molecules. HLA-A2/K^b transgenic mice were immunized once with either 1.0×10⁸ cfu of Lm-HMW-MAA-B or 2.5×10⁷ cfu of Lm-HMW-MAA-C. Nine days later, splenocytes were stimulated in vitro with peptide B₁ (ILSNLSFPV; SEQ ID NO: 43; corresponds to HMW-MAA_769-777), peptide B₂ (LLFGSIVAV; SEQ ID NO: 44; corresponds to HMW-MAA_1063-1071), or peptide C (LILPLLFYL; SEQ ID NO: 45; corresponds to HMW-MAA_2238-2246) for 5 hours in the presence of monensin. Cells were gated on CD8+-CD62L^low and IFN-γ intracellular staining was measured.

In a separate experiment, mice were immunized twice (day 0 and day 7) with either Lm-HMW-MAA-B or Lm-HMW-MAA-C and splenocytes harvested on day 14 for in vitro stimulation with fragment B1 or C of Lm-HMW-MAA. IFN-γ levels were measured using IFN-γ Elispot.

Results

C57BL/6 mice (n=8 per group) were inoculated with 2×10⁵ B16F10-HMW-MAA/CMV7. On days 3, and 17, mice were immunized with one of three constructs, Lm-HMW-MAA-A (2.5×10⁷ cfu), Lm-HMW-MAA-B (1×10⁸ cfu), Lm-HMW-MAA-C (2.5×10⁷ cfu). The control group was vaccinated with Lm-GGE7 (1×10⁸ cfu). All three Lm-HMW-MAA constructs exerted significant anti-tumor effects (FIG. 6).

To determine the role of CD4+ and CD8+ cells in the anti-tumor effect of Lm-HMW-MAA, CD4+ or CD8+, cells were depleted by antibody administration in C57BL/6 mice who had been innoculated with B16F10-HMW-MAA/CMV7B and immunized on days 3, 10, and 17 with Lm-HMW-MAA-C (2.5×10⁷ cfu). CD4+ or CD8+ depletion abrogated the efficacy of LM-HMW-MAA-C vaccine (FIG. 7). In the non-immunized control group, all mice developed tumors, whereas 50% of the mice immunized with Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA-C and given a control antibody remained tumor-free for at least 56 days after tumor-challenge. On the other hand, none of the mice receiving either the anti-CD8 or anti-CD4 antibodies could control the tumor growth, showing that both cells types play an important role in the anti-tumor immunity generated by the Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA-C vaccine (FIG. 7). However, administration of the anti-CD25 antibody did not improve the efficacy of the Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA-C vaccine, suggesting that the subset of CD4⁺ CD25⁺ T regulatory cells does not have a significant influence in this model (FIG. 7).

Lm vectors are recognized for their ability to generate strong CD8⁺ T cell responses, which are important for tumor rejection. To verify if the CD8⁺ T cells generated upon immunization with Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA-C had anti-tumor activity against the B16F10-HMW-MAA cell line, CD8⁺ T cells (2×10⁶ cells per mouse) were purified from the spleens of mice from each treatment group, mixed with B16F10-HMW-MAA tumor cells (2×10⁵ per mouse), and then subcutaneously injected in mice (8 per group). Mice were observed for 28 days and examined every 2 days for tumor growth. CD8⁺ T cells from Lm-HMW-MAA-C-vaccinated mice inhibited the growth of B16F10 HMW-MAA tumors in vivo (FIG. 8). When mixed with CD8⁺ T cells from mice immunized with Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA-C, 50% of the naïve animals did not develop tumors in four weeks, as compared to none in the control group (P≦0.05). This result indicates that vaccination with Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA-C induces CD8⁺ T cells able to inhibit the in vivo growth of the B16F10-HMW-MAA cell line.

Mice that had been inoculated with 2×10⁵ B16F10-HMW-MAA/CMV7 and vaccinated with Lm-HMW-MAA-C as described above and remained tumor-free after 7 weeks were re-challenged with 2×10⁵ B16F10-HMW-MAA cells 7 weeks after the first tumor injection. Vaccinated mice were protected against a second challenge with B16F10-HMW-MAA/CMV7 tumor cells (FIG. 9).

Immunization of HLA-A2/K^b transgenic mice with Lm-HMW-MAA-B and Lm-HMW-MAA-C induces detectable immune responses against two characterized HMW-MAA HLA-A2 epitopes in fragments B and C both after one (FIG. 10A) or two immunizations (FIG. 10B).

HLA-A2/K^b and wild-type C57BI/6 mice were immunized once with Lm-HMW-MAA-B or Lm-HMW-MAA-C, and IFN-γ secretion by T cells stimulated with an HLA-A2 restricted peptide from fragment C was measured with IFN-γ Elispot. IFN-γ secretion was increased in Lm-HMW-MAA-C-immunized HLA-A2/K^b transgenic mice stimulated with Peptide C compared to unstimulated transgenic mice, compared to Peptide C-stimulated non-transgenic mice and compared to non-immunized transgenic and control mice (FIGS. 11A and 11B).

The HMW-MAA fragment expressed and secreted by the Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA-C vaccine contains the HLA-A2-restricted epitope ₂₂₃₈LILPLLFYL₂₂₄₆. To test whether immunization with Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA-C was able to induce immune responses against this epitope, we vaccinated either HLA-A2/K^b transgenic mice or C57BL/6 mice with Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA-C and analyzed the production of IFN-γ by ELISpot after stimulation with HMW-MAA_2238-2246 peptide. Following two immunizations, a significantly higher number of SFC was detected in splenocytes from the HLA-A2/K^b transgenic mice, but not in the C57BL/6 mice. Similar results were obtained using intracellular staining for IFN-γ. After one immunization with Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA-C, IFN-γ production was detected in 0.51% of the CD8⁺ T cells from the HLA-A2/K^b transgenic mice stimulated with the HMW-MAA_2238-2246 peptide, compared to 0.06% in the absence of the peptide. No responses could be detected in non-transgenic C57Bl/6 mice (data not shown). These results show that immunization with the Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA-C vaccine can induce CD8⁺ T cell responses against a HMW-MAA epitope restricted to the HLA-A2 molecule.

Thus, Lm-HMW-MAA constructs induce antigen-specific immune responses that impede tumor growth. In addition, the Lm-HMW-MAA constructs exhibit anti-tumor activity even against tumors not expressing HMW-MAA.

Example 6

Vaccination with HMW-MAA-Expressing Lm Induces Breast Tumor Regression

FVB/N 6-8 week old female mice were injected subcutaneously with 1×10⁶ NT-2 tumor cells suspended in 1×PBS at a total volume of 200 μl. Mice were immunized with either 1×10⁷ Lm-LLO-NYESO-1 Listeria vaccine or 2.5×10⁷ Lm-LLO-HMWMAA-C Listeria vaccine in 1×PBS, 2001 total volume, i.p. on days 7, 14 and 21. Tumors were measured every week started from day 7. The NYESO-1 group were 8 mice total, the HMWMAA-C group was 5 mice total.

From the NYESO-1 group, 0/8 showed total tumor regression; 2/5 mice in the HMWMAA group had complete tumor regression (size=0.0 mm). The group immunized with Lm-LLO-HMWMAA-C had significantly decreased tumor size compared to the group immunized with Lm-LLO-NYESO-1 (FIG. 12).

Interestingly, we observed that immunization of mice with Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA-C could impact the growth of several different tumors that were not engineered to express HMW-MAA, such as the parental B16F10, RENCA and NT-2 tumors, which were derived from distinct mouse strains. In the RENCA, which is a spontaneous renal carcinoma cell line derived from the BALB/c mouse, and B16F10 models, mice were immunized weekly with Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA-C three times, starting 3 days after tumor challenge. Immunization with Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA-C significantly delayed the growth of these tumors (FIGS. 13A and B). In the NT-2 tumor model, which is a mammary carcinoma cell line expressing the rat HER-2/neu protein and is derived from the FVB/N HER-2/neu transgenic mice, immunization with Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA-C 7 days after tumor inoculation not only impaired tumor growth but also induced regression of the tumor in 1 out of 5 mice (FIG. 13C). Furthermore, these results could not be attributed to a non-specific Lm effect since a control Lm vaccine strain did not impact on the growth of B16F10, RENCA (FIG. 13B) or NT-2 tumors (FIG. 13C). We also evaluated the effect of Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA-C immunization in a spontaneous tumor model using the FVB/N HER-2/neu transgenic mouse. These mice express the rat HER-2/neu proto-oncogene under the control of the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) promoter. In this transgenic mouse strain, over 90% of the females develop focal mammary tumors after a latency of about 4-6 months. Immunization with Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA-C significantly delayed the median time for the onset of mammary tumors in these mice (39 weeks), as compared to a control Lm vaccine (25 weeks) (FIG. 13D).

Thereafter, spleens taken from 84 day mice were glass homogenized and washed, RBC-lysed, then counted for Elispots. Splenocytes were placed in Elispot wells and titrated, primary and detection antibodies were anti-IFNgamma. Peptides were added to corresponding wells for a final concentration of 2 μM. Background spots (medium alone) were subtracted from values shown. Statistical test, Mann-Whitney, two-tailed, was performed to determine statistical significance (FIG. 14).

Although NT-2 cells do not express the HMW-MAA homolog AN2, immunization of FVB/N mice with Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA-C significantly impaired the growth of NT-2 tumors and eventually led to tumor regression (FIG. 13C). One hypothesis is that activated pericytes present in tumor blood vessels, which express the AN2/HMW-MAA marker, could be a potential target for HMW-MAA vaccines. Because Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA-C vaccination had a pronounced effect in NT-2 tumors, we used this tumor model to evaluate CD8⁺ T cells and pericytes in the tumor site by immunofluorescence. Staining of NT-2 tumor sections for CD8 showed infiltration of CD8⁺ T cells into the tumors and around blood vessels in mice immunized with the Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA-C vaccine, but not in mice immunized with the control vaccine (FIG. 15A). We also analyzed pericytes in NT-2 tumors by double staining with αSMA and NG2 antibodies. The NG2 protein is the rat homolog of HMW-MAA and the NG2 antibody used in this study has been shown to cross-react with the mouse homolog AN2. Data analysis from 3 independent NT-2 tumors showed a significant decrease in the number of pericytes in mice immunized with Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA-C, as compared to control (P≦0.05) (FIG. 15B). Similar results were obtained when the analysis was restricted to cells stained for αSMA, which is not targeted by the vaccine (data not shown). This finding is in agreement with the hypothesis that Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA-C vaccination might potentially impact blood vessel formation in the tumor site by targeting pericytes.

Immunization with HMW-MAA-C has no impact on wound healing, pregnancy and fertility in mice. To evaluate whether Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA-C causes toxicity that is associated with angiogenesis inhibition, we studied wound healing, pregnancy and fertility in immunized mice. No significant difference was observed in the time required for wound closure in mice immunized with Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA-C as compared to a control Lm vaccine or saline injection (FIG. 16A). Similarly, Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA-C immunization had no impact on fertility, gestation length and pup mass at birth (FIG. 16B). Thus, despite its effect on tumor vasculature, we did not observe toxicity associated with blood vessel damage in mice immunized with Lm-HMW-MAA-C, such as wound healing, pregnancy or fertility problems.

These findings demonstrated that a breast tumor, NT-2, which expresses HER-2/neu, can be eliminated by the vaccine of the invention. Lm-LLO-HMW-MAA fragment C (residues 2160-2258, SEQ ID NO: 3) is effective at controlling a breast tumor growth. In addition, the present findings demonstrate the dual action of the vaccine in spreading the immune response from HMW-MAA to the HER-2/neu antigen expressed by the breast tumor cells. Immunohistochemical staining indicated that the anti-HMW-MAA CTL induced is found located around the tumor blood vessels, confirming that the immune response targets the tumor vasculature. Since tumors need vasculature to grow, vaccination with Lm-LLO-HMW-2160-2258 is effective against all tumor types. However, Lm-LLO-HMW-2160-2258 is particularly effective in tumors expressing HER-2/neu.

Example 7

Fusion of E7 to LLO or ActA Enhances E7-Specific Immunity and Generates Tumor-Infiltrating E7-Specific CD8⁺ Cells Materials and Experimental Methods

Construction of Lm-actA-E7

Lm-actA-E7 was generated by introducing a plasmid vector pDD-1 constructed by modifying pDP-2028 into LM. pDD-1 comprises an expression cassette expressing a copy of the 310 bp hly promoter and the hly signal sequence (ss), which drives the expression and secretion of actA-E7; 1170 bp of the actA gene that comprises 4 PEST sequences (SEQ ID NO: 5) (the truncated ActA polypeptide consists of the first 390 AA of the molecule, SEQ ID NO: 4); the 300 bp HPV E7 gene; the 1019 bp prfA gene (controls expression of the virulence genes); and the CAT gene (chloramphenicol resistance gene) for selection of transformed bacteria clones.

pDD-1 was created from pDP2028 (encoding ΔLLO-NP), which was in turn created from pDP1659 as follows:

Construction of pDP1659: The DNA fragment encoding the first 420 AA of LLO and its promoter and upstream regulatory sequences was PCR amplified with LM genomic DNA used as a template and ligated into pUC19. PCR primers used were 5′-GGCCCGGGCCCCCTCCTTTGAT-3′ (SEQ ID No: 30) and 5′-GGTCTAGATCATAATTTACTTCATCC-3′ (SEQ ID No: 31). The DNA fragment encoding NP was similarly PCR amplified from linearized plasmid pAPR501 (obtained from Dr. Peter Palese, Mt. Sinai Medical School, New York) and subsequently ligated as an in-frame translational fusion into pUC19 downstream of the hemolysin gene fragment. PCR primers used were 5′-GGTCTAGAGAATTCCAGCAAAAGCAG-3′ (SEQ ID No: 32) and 5′-GGGTCGACAAGGGTATTTTTCTTTAAT-3′ (SEQ ID No: 33). The fusion was then subcloned into the EcoRV and SalI sites of pAM401. Plasmid pDP2028 was constructed by subcloning the prfA gene into the SalI site of pDP1659.

pDD-1 was created from pDP-2028 (Lm-LLO-NP) as follows:

The hly promoter (pHly) and gene fragment (441 AA) were PCR amplified from pGG55 using primer 5′-GGGGTCTAGACCTCCTTTGATTAGTATATTC-3′ (Xba I site is underlined; SEQ ID NO: 34) and primer 5′-ATCTTCGCTATCTGTCGCCGCGGCGCGTGCTTCAGTTTGTTGCGC-′3 (Not I site is underlined. The first 18 nucleotides are the ActA gene overlap; SEQ ID NO: 35). The actA gene was PCR amplified from the LM 10403s wildtype genome using primer 5′-GCGCAACAAACTGAAGCAGCGGCCGCGGCGACAGATAGCGAAGAT-3′ (NotI site is underlined; SEQ ID NO: 36) and primer 5′-TGTAGGTGTATCTCCATGCTCGAGAGCTAGGCGATCAATTTC-3′ (XhoI site is underlined; SEQ ID NO: 37). The E7 gene was PCR amplified from pGG55 using primer 5′-GGAATTGATCGCCTAGCTCTCGAGCATGGAGATACACCTACA-3′ (XhoI site is underlined; SEQ ID NO: 38) and primer 5′-AAACGGATTTATTTAGATCCCGGGTTATGGTTTCTGAGAACA-3′ (XmaI site is underlined; SEQ ID NO: 39). The prfA gene was PCR amplified from the LM 10403s wild-type genome using primer 5′-TGTTCTCAGAAACCATAACCCGGGATCTAAATAAATCCGTTT-3′ (XmaI site is underlined; SEQ ID NO: 40) and primer 5′-GGGGGTCGACCAGCTCTTCTTGGTGAAG-3′ (SalI site is underlined; SEQ ID NO: 41). The hly promoter-actA gene fusion (pHly-actA) was PCR generated and amplified from purified pHly and actA DNA using the upstream pHly primer (SEQ ID NO: 34) and downstream actA primer (SEQ ID NO: 37).

The E7 gene fused to the prfA gene (E7-prfA) was PCR generated and amplified from purified E7 and prfA DNA using the upstream E7 primer (SEQ ID NO: 38) and downstream prfA gene primer (SEQ ID NO: 41).

The pHly-actA fusion product fused to the E7-prfA fusion product was PCR generated and amplified from purified fused pHly-actA and E7-prfA DNA products using the upstream pHly primer (SEQ ID NO: 34) and downstream prfA gene primer (SEQ ID NO: 41) and ligated into pCR11 (Invitrogen, La Jolla, Calif.). Competent E. coli (TOP10′F, Invitrogen, La Jolla, Calif.) were transformed with pCRII-ActAE7. After lysis and isolation, the plasmid was screened by restriction analysis using BamHI (expected fragment sizes 770 and 6400 bp) and BstXI (expected fragment sizes 2800 and 3900) and screened by PCR using the above-described upstream pHly primer and downstream prfA gene primer.

The pHly-ActA-E7-PrfA DNA insert was excised from pCRII by XbaI/SalI digestion with and ligated into XbaI/Sal I digested pDP-2028. After transforming TOP10′F competent E. coli (Invitrogen, LaJolla, Calif.) with expression system pHly-ActA-E7, chloramphenicol resistant clones were screened by PCR analysis using the above-described upstream pHly primer and downstream prfA gene primer. A clone containing pHly-ActA-E7 was amplified, and midiprep DNA was isolated (Promega, Madison, Wis). XFL-7 was transformed with pHly-ActA-E7, and clones were selected for the retention of the plasmid in vivo. Clones were grown in brain heart infusion medium (Difco, Detroit, Mich.) with 20 mcg (microgram)/ml (milliliter) chloramphenicol at 37° C. Bacteria were frozen in aliquots at −80° C.

In Vivo Experiments

500 mcL of MATRIGEL®, containing 100 mcL of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) with 2×10⁵ TC-1 tumor cells, plus 400 mcL of MATRIGEL®, (BD Biosciences, Franklin Lakes, N.J.) were implanted subcutaneously on the left flank of 12 C57BL/6 mice (n=3). Mice were immunized intraperitoneally on day 7, 14 and 21, and spleens and tumors were harvested on day 28. Tumor Matrigels were removed from the mice and incubated at 4° C. overnight in tubes containing 2 ml RP 10 medium on ice. Tumors were minced with forceps, cut into 2 mm blocks, and incubated at 37° C. for 1 hour with 3 ml of enzyme mixture (0.2 mg/ml collagenase-P, 1 mg/ml DNAse-1 in PBS). The tissue suspension was filtered through nylon mesh and washed with 5% fetal bovine serum+0.05% of NaN₃ in PBS for tetramer and IFN-gamma staining.

Splenocytes and tumor cells were incubated with 1 micromole (mcm) E7 peptide for 5 hours in the presence of brefeldin A at 10⁷ cells/ml. Cells were washed twice and incubated in 50 mcL of anti-mouse Fc receptor supernatant (2.4 G2) for 1 hour or overnight at 4° C. Cells were stained for surface molecules CD8 and CD62L, permeabilized, fixed using the permeabilization kit GOLGI-STOP® or GOLGI-PLUG® (Pharmingen, San Diego, Calif.), and stained for IFN-gamma 500,000 events were acquired using two-laser flow cytometer FACSCalibur and analyzed using Cellquest Software (Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, N.J.). Percentages of IFN-gamma secreting cells within the activated (CD62L^low) CD8⁺T cells were calculated.

For tetramer staining, H-2D^b tetramer was loaded with phycoerythrin (PE)-conjugated E7 peptide (RAHYNIVTF, SEQ ID NO: 42), stained at rt for 1 hour, and stained with anti-allophycocyanin (APC) conjugated MEL-14 (CD62L) and FITC-conjugated CD8β at 4° C. for 30 min. Cells were analyzed comparing tetramer⁺CD8⁺ CD62L^low cells in the spleen and in the tumor.

Results

To analyze the ability of LLO and ActA fusions to enhance antigen specific immunity, mice were implanted with TC-1 tumor cells and immunized with either Lm-LLO-E7 (1×10⁷ CFU), Lm-E7 (1×10⁶ CFU), or Lm-ActA-E7 (2×10⁸ CFU), or were untreated (naïve). Tumors of mice from the Lm-LLO-E7 and Lm-ActA-E7 groups contained a higher percentage of IFN-gamma-secreting CD8⁺ T cells (FIG. 17) and tetramer-specific CD8⁺ cells (FIG. 18) than in mice administered Lm-E7 or naïve mice.

Thus, Lm-LLO-E7 and Lm-ActA-E7 are both efficacious at induction of tumor-infiltrating CD8⁺ T cells and tumor regression. Accordingly, LLO and ActA fusions are effective in methods and compositions of the present invention.

Example 8

Fusion to a Pest-Like Sequence Enhances E7-Specific Immunity Materials and Experimental Methods

Constructs

Lm-PEST-E7, a Listeria strain identical to Lm-LLO-E7, except that it contains only the promoter and the first 50 AA of the LLO, was constructed as follows:

The hly promoter and PEST regions were fused to the full-length E7 gene by splicing by overlap extension (SOE) PCR. The E7 gene and the hly-PEST gene fragment were amplified from the plasmid pGG-55, which contains the first 441 amino acids of LLO, and spliced together by conventional PCR techniques. pVS16.5, the hly-PEST-E7 fragment and the LM transcription factor prfA were subcloned into the plasmid pAM401. The resultant plasmid was used to transform XFL-7.

Lm-E7_epi is a recombinant strain that secretes E7 without the PEST region or an LLO fragment. The plasmid used to transform this strain contains a gene fragment of the hly promoter and signal sequence fused to the E7 gene. This construct differs from the original Lm-E7, which expressed a single copy of the E7 gene integrated into the chromosome. Lm-E7_epi is completely isogenic to Lm-LLO-E7 and Lm-PEST-E7, except for the form of the E7 antigen expressed.

Recombinant strains were grown in brain heart infusion (BHI) medium with chloramphenicol (20 mcg/mL). Bacteria were frozen in aliquots at −80° C.

Results

To test the effect on antigenicity of fusion to a PEST-like sequence, the LLO PEST-like sequence was fused to E7. Tumor regression studies were performed, as described for Example 1, in parallel with Listeria strain expressing LLO-E7 and E7 alone. Lm-LLO-E7 and Lm-PEST-E7 caused the regression 5/8 and 3/8 established tumors, respectively (FIG. 19). By contrast, Lm-E7epi only caused tumor regression in 1/8 mice. A statistically significant difference in tumor sizes was observed between tumors treated with PEST-containing constructs (Lm-LLO-E7 or Lm-PEST-E7) and those treated with Lm-E7epi (Student's t test).

To compare the levels of E7-specific lymphocytes generated by the vaccines in the spleen, spleens were harvested on day 21 and stained with antibodies to CD62L, CD8, and the E7/Db tetramer. Lm-E7epi induced low levels of E7 tetramer-positive activated CD8⁺ T cells in the spleen, while Lm-PEST-E7 and Lm-LLO-E7 induced 5 and 15 times more cells, respectively (FIG. 20A), a result that was reproducible over 3 separate experiments. Thus, fusion to PEST-like sequences increased induction of tetramer-positive splenocytes. The mean and SE of data obtained from the 3 experiments (FIG. 20B) demonstrate the significant increase in tetramer-positive CD8⁺ cells by Lm-LLO-E7 and Lm-PEST-E7 over Lm-E7epi (P<0.05 by Student's t test). Similarly, the number of tumor-infiltrating antigen-specific CD8⁺ T cells was higher in mice vaccinated with Lm-LLO-E7 and Lm-PEST-E7, reproducibly over 3 experiments (FIG. 21A-B). Average values of tetramer-positive CD8⁺ TILs were significantly higher for Lm-LLO-E7 than Lm-E7epi (P<0.05; Student's t test).

Thus, PEST-like sequences confer increased immunogenicity to antigens.

Example 9

Enhancement of Immunogenicity by Fusion of an Antigen to LLO does not Require a Listeria Vector Materials and Experimental Methods

Construction of Vac-SigE7Lamp

The WR strain of vaccinia was used as the recipient, and the fusion gene was excised from the Listerial plasmid and inserted into pSC11 under the control of the p75 promoter. This vector was chosen because it is the transfer vector used for the vaccinia constructs Vac-SigE7Lamp and Vac-E7 and therefore allowed direct comparison with Vac-LLO-E7. In this way all 3 vaccinia recombinants were expressed under control of the same early/late compound promoter p7.5. In addition, SC11 allows the selection of recombinant viral plaques to TK selection and beta-galactosidase screening. FIG. 22 depicts the various vaccinia constructs used in these experiments. Vac-SigE7Lamp is a recombinant vaccinia virus that expressed the E7 protein fused between lysosomal associated membrane protein (LAMP-1) signal sequence and sequence from the cytoplasmic tail of LAMP-1.

The following modifications were made to allow expression of the gene product by vaccinia: (a) the T5XT sequence that prevents early transcription by vaccinia was removed from the 5′ portion of the LLO-E7 sequence by PCR; and (b) an additional XmaI restriction site was introduced by PCR to allow the final insertion of LLO-E7 into SC11. Successful introduction of these changes (without loss of the original sequence that encodes for LLO-E7) was verified by sequencing. The resulting pSCl 1-E7 construct was used to transfect the TK-ve cell line CV1 that had been infected with the wild-type vaccinia strain, WR. Cell lysates obtained from this co-infection/transfection step contain vaccinia recombinants that were plaque-purified 3 times. Expression of the LLO-E7 fusion product by plaque-purified vaccinia was verified by Western blot using an antibody directed against the LLO protein sequence. Ability of Vac-LLO-E7 to produce CD8⁺ T cells specific to LLO and E7 was determined using the LLO (91-99) and E7 (49-57) epitopes of Balb/c and C57/BL6 mice, respectively. Results were confirmed in a chromium release assay.

Results

To determine whether enhancement of immunogenicity by fusion of an antigen to LLO requires a Listeria vector, a vaccinia vector expressing E7 as a fusion protein with a non-hemolytic truncated form of LLO was constructed. Tumor rejection studies were performed with TC-1 as described in above Examples, but initiating treatment when the tumors were 3 mm in diameter (FIG. 23). By day 76, 50% of the Vac-LLO-E7 treated mice were tumor free, while only 25% of the Vac-SigE7Lamp mice were tumor free. In other experiments, LLO-antigen fusions were shown to be more immunogenic than E7 peptide mixed with SBAS2 or unmethylated CpG oligonucleotides in a side-by-side comparison. These results show that (a) LLO-antigen fusions are immunogenic not only in the context of Listeria, but also in other contexts; and (b) the immunogenicity of LLO-antigen fusions compares favorably with other vaccine approaches known to be efficacious.

Claims

1. A method of delaying progression of a breast tumor in a subject, said method comprising the step of administering to said subject a composition comprising a recombinant Listeria strain expressing a recombinant nucleotide sequence encoding a recombinant polypeptide comprising a fragment of a high Molecular Weight Melanoma-Associated antigen (hmw-MAA) protein fused to a listeriolysin (llo) protein, an acta protein, or a pest sequence, wherein said recombinant nucleotide sequence encoding said fragment is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs 21, 22, or 23, whereby said subject mounts an immune response against a hmw-MAA-expressing pericyte of a vasculature of said tumor, whereby said subject mounts an immune response against said pericyte of said vasculature of said tumor, thereby delaying progression of a breast tumor in a subject.

2. A method of treating, suppressing, or inhibiting a breast cancer in a subject, whereby said breast cancer is associated with expression of HER-2/neu antigen in said subject, said method comprising the step of administering to said subject a composition comprising a recombinant Listeria strain expressing a recombinant nucleotide sequence encoding a recombinant polypeptide comprising a fragment of a high Molecular Weight Melanoma-Associated antigen (hmw-MAA) protein fused to a listeriolysin (llo) protein, an acta protein, or a pest sequence, wherein said recombinant nucleotide sequence encoding said fragment is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs 21, 22, or 23, whereby said subject mounts an immune response against HER-2/neu-expressing tumor, thereby treating, suppressing, or inhibiting a breast cancer in a subject.

3. A method of inducing a breast anti-tumor immune response in a subject comprising the step of administering to said subject a composition comprising a recombinant Listeria strain expressing a recombinant nucleotide sequence encoding a recombinant polypeptide comprising a fragment of a high Molecular Weight Melanoma-Associated antigen (hmw-MAA) protein fused to a listeriolysin (llo) protein, an acta protein, or a pest sequence, wherein said recombinant nucleotide sequence encoding said fragment is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs 21, 22, or 23, whereby said subject mounts an immune response against a hmw-MAA-expressing pericyte of a vasculature of said tumor, whereby said composition kills the vasculature of said tumor and induces the release of a tumor antigen, thereby inducing a breast anti-tumor immune response.

4. A method of delaying progression of a breast tumor in a subject, said method comprising the step of administering to said subject a composition comprising a recombinant Listeria strain expressing a recombinant nucleotide sequence encoding a recombinant polypeptide comprising a fragment of a high Molecular Weight Melanoma-Associated antigen (hmw-MAA) protein fused to a listeriolysin (llo) protein, an acta protein, or a pest sequence, wherein said recombinant nucleotide sequence encoding said fragment is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs 21, 22, or 23, whereby said subject mounts an immune response against a hmw-MAA-expressing pericyte of a vasculature of said tumor, whereby said subject mounts an immune response against a pericyte of a vasculature of said tumor, thereby delaying progression of a breast tumor in a subject.

5. A method of treating, suppressing, or inhibiting a breast cancer in a subject, whereby said cancer is associated with expression of HER-2/neu antigen in a subject, said method comprising the step of administering to said subject a composition comprising a recombinant Listeria strain expressing a recombinant nucleotide sequence encoding a recombinant polypeptide comprising a fragment of a high Molecular Weight Melanoma-Associated antigen (hmw-MAA) protein fused to a listeriolysin (llo) protein, an acta protein, or a pest sequence, wherein said recombinant nucleotide sequence encoding said fragment is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs 21, 22, or 23, whereby said subject mounts an immune response against a hmw-MAA-expressing pericyte of a vasculature of a tumor from said cancer, thereby treating, suppressing, or inhibiting a breast cancer in a subject.

6. A method of inducing a breast anti-tumor immune response in a subject comprising the step of administering to said subject a composition comprising a recombinant Listeria strain expressing a recombinant nucleotide sequence encoding a recombinant polypeptide comprising a fragment of a high Molecular Weight Melanoma-Associated antigen (hmw-MAA) protein fused to a listeriolysin (llo) protein, an acta protein, or a pest sequence, wherein said recombinant nucleotide sequence encoding said fragment is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs 21, 22, or 23, whereby said subject mounts an immune response against a hmw-MAA-expressing pericyte of a vasculature of said tumor, whereby said composition kills the vasculature of said tumor and induces the release of a tumor antigen, thereby inducing a breast anti-tumor immune response.

7. A method for treating breast tumor cells expressing HER-2/neu in a subject, said method comprising administering to said subject a composition comprising a recombinant Listeria strain expressing a nucleotide sequence encoding a recombinant polypeptide, said recombinant nucleotide sequence is encoded by SEQ ID NO: 23 linked to an llo polypeptide.